The Linux Foundation Open Sources Hardware of Disaster Relief Project that Won First Call for Code Global Challenge Led by IBM
San Francisco, Calif., March 10, 2020 – The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, today announced the open source of Project OWL’s IoT device firmware inviting developers worldwide to build mesh network nodes for global emergency communications networks. Project OWL, the winner of Call for Code2018, is a cloud-based analytics tool that helps facilitate organization, whereabouts, and logistics for disaster response. The Linux Foundation’s open governance model will enable a global network of developers to accelerate the development of the mesh networks, which could help save lives following a natural disaster.
Project OWL (Organization, Whereabouts, and Logistics)has developed mesh network of Internet of Things (IoT) devices called “DuckLinks” that can be deployed or activated in disaster areas to quickly reestablish connectivity and improve communication between first responders and civilians in need. A central portal connects to solar- and battery-powered water resistant ‘DuckLinks’ that are placed in the field to generate a Local Area Network (LAN) using a Wi-Fi captive portal powered by low frequency Long-range Radio (LoRa) connectivity. These DuckLinks provide an emergency network to all mobile devices in their perimeter, instructing people how to connect to an emergency response portal. First responders can also use analytics and data sources to build a dashboard and formulate an action plan, such as coordinating resources, learning about weather patterns, and communicating with civilians who would otherwise be cut off.
Project OWL envisions the nodes creating large-scale communications networks in the wake of natural disasters. The open source release of OWL’s firmware can quickly turn a cheap wireless device into a DuckLink, a mesh network node capable of connecting to any other Ducks physically around it. This release marks a significant milestone putting the ClusterDuck Protocol into the hands of global developers. This is a starting point to even larger efforts in communities around the world to provide communications where infrastructure is degraded or nonexistent.
“Becoming part of The Linux Foundation community is a huge boost in accelerating our goal
to better prepare communities and mitigate impact when hurricanes, floods or earthquakes strike. We want to challenge developers to build mesh network nodes for global emergency communications networks leveraging our newly open-sourced IoT firmware,” said Bryan Knouse, Co-Founder of Project OWL.
“When developing technologies that can have a direct impact on human life, it’s more important than ever to bring the largest possible global community of developers together working with an open governance model,” said Michael Dolan, VP of Strategic Programs at The Linux Foundation. “Project OWL’s technology solution is providing better information and analytics and enabling quicker distribution of resources and care where and when it’s needed most. We’re proud to support such a worthy cause.”
“As a developer, I am excited Project OWL’s firmware is open source and not just a hardware-software product. OWL has become a global movement that anyone from anywhere on the planet can join, contribute and address global issues,” said Vikas Singh, India-based open source developer.
In 2018, Project OWL emerged as the global winner in the inaugural Call for Code Global Challenge, competing with more than 100,000 participants from 156 nations. The Call for Code Global Challenge encourages and fosters the creation of practical applications built on open source software. The goal is to employ technology in new ways that can make an immediate and lasting humanitarian impact in communities around the world. Since winning in 2018, Project Owl has been fortified, tested, and deployed through IBM Code and ResponseTM, a $25 million, four-year deployment initiative to put open source technologies in the communities where they are needed most.
“Project OWL was our first Call for Code winner that went through the Code and Response incubation process, and we’re excited to see this solution grow closer to reality,” said Daniel Krook, IBM Chief Technology Officer for Call for Code and Code and Response. “We were impressed with their combination of a complete software and hardware open source solution, utilizing an AI-powered disaster coordination platform paired with a robust communication network to reach people when connections are down. IBM is committed to using the power of our network and technical know-how to alleviate suffering from climate change and natural disasters, and we’re thrilled to have the support of The Linux Foundation as we deploy the project globally.”
In March 2019, Project OWL and IBM took on a large-scale pilot trip to Puerto Rico, deploying over 63 ducks each covering two square miles. This was followed by two additional pilots in the west and southeast of the island, engaging with local students, businesses, government representatives, and first responders. OWL currently has 30 permanent, solar-powered devices deployed across Puerto Rico in areas that are vulnerable to earthquakes, flooding, fire or other weather conditions.
Resources:
Code and Response™ with The Linux Foundation: https://www.linuxfoundation.
Contribute on GitHub:https://github.com/
Learn more about the ClusterDuck Protocol: http://clusterduckprotocol.
About Call for Code
Developers have revolutionized the way people live and interact with virtually everyone and everything. Where most people see challenges, developers see possibilities. That’s why David Clark Cause created and launched Call for Codein 2018 alongside Founding Partner IBM. This five-year, $30 million global initiative is a rallying cry to developers to use their skills and mastery of the latest technologies, and to create new ones, to drive positive and long-lasting change across the world with their code. Call for Code global winning solutions, among others, are further developed and deployed via the IBM Code and Response initiative.
About The Linux Foundation
Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation is supported by more than 1,000 members and is the world’s leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. The Linux Foundation’s projects are critical to the world’s infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, and more. The Linux Foundation’s methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org.
The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/
##
IBM Developer blog post:
Project Owl’s open source project challenges developers to build global mesh network nodes for emergency communications
IBM Developer sat down with Bryan Knouse, CEO and Co-Founder, Project OWL (Winner of Call for Code 2018) to learn about Project Owl’s newest open source contribution and how it’s challenging developers around the world to get involved.
What is Project OWL and how did it get involved with IBM and The Linux Foundation?
Project OWL is a cloud-based analytics tool that helps facilitate Organization, Whereabouts, and Logistics for disaster response. Our team developed a mesh network of Internet of Things (IoT) devices called “DuckLinks” that can be deployed or activated in disaster areas to quickly reestablish connectivity and improve communication between first responders and civilians in need.
In 2018, we won the inaugural Call for CodeGlobal Challenge. Our idea rose to the top from over 100,000 participants from 156 nations and we won the opportunity to work with IBMand Code and Response with The Linux Foundation, to help us build, fortify, test and launch our solution to help communities in need.
How important is open source to the development of Project OWL’s offerings?
Open source is at the core of our mission. We build technology that helps communities prepare for and deal with natural disasters by deploying communications networks to places that may not have any, or infrastructure that may have been destroyed during a natural disaster. We’ve worked with The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization that enables mass innovation through open source, since 2018 and just released our IoT device firmware as open source to help developers build mesh network nodes for global emergency communications networks anywhere in the world.
Becoming part of The Linux Foundation community under the Code and Response umbrella project is a huge boost in accelerating our goal to help communities better prepare for and mitigate impacts when hurricanes, floods or earthquakes strike.
Can you tell us more about the impact that open source will have on developers and what are you looking for developers to build on top of your firmware?
I think one of the most powerful aspects of our ClusterDuck protocol, which the DuckLinks are built on, is that it provides a basic foundation for a wide array of creative, technical projects you can build. We haven’t even scratched the surface on all the projects to build and we want to open this to the creativity and ingenuity of developers all over the word. We’re expecting greater, faster advancements in messaging, security, reliability and solutions that more effectively support local communities – wherever they may be, from developers around the world.
Project OWL integrates the ClusterDuck Protocol in our devices we build for communities, the private sector, and the government. As the open source community works with us to iterate this protocol, we hope to not only support more developers with great technology, but expect that Project OWL can continue to leverage a growing and ever improving open source project in our business.
How will open source help the Owl team scale globally?
With help from IBM and The Linux Foundation, we officially open-sourced the ClusterDuck protocol. Our hope is that by open-sourcing this device firmware, we can encourage millions of developers around the world to help us make this innovative solution a reality and help communities in need. Making this open source means we can get this technology into the hands of developers who otherwise wouldn’t be able to use it. If we limited our source of concepts and creativity to only the team in the room, we can only source that set of ideas from a few people. Communities around the world all face unique challenges and need solutions that work on a local level. We want to build a solution that can quickly scale and help any community anywhere.
Open source enables an organization like Project Owl to expand on the ideas of millions of developers to continue to build game-changing technology for the world.
How can developers access and add to your life-saving technology?
If you’re a developer or a creative or if you’re just passionate about new technology and solutions that can make an impact, you can visit ClusterDuckProtocol.org. GitHub links will be available for you to download, install, and then build with the ClusterDuck protocol. Or if you just have great ideas, you want to contribute and peek inside the conversation going on at Project Owl, come join our Slack channel at www.project-owl.com/slackwhere you can connect with hundreds of other developers from around the world working on this project. We’re always looking for new perspectives and ideas and hope to see you there.
Can you give an update on Project OWL’s real-world impact?
In March 2019, Project OWL and IBM took on a large-scale pilot trip to Puerto Rico, deploying over 63 ducks each covering two square miles. This was followed by two additional pilots in the west and southeast of the island, engaging with local students, businesses, government representatives, and first responders. In December, we went back to the island and updated our devices and showed our technology to representatives from the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA). Today there are 30 permanent, solar-powered devices deployed across Puerto Rico in areas that are vulnerable to earthquakes, flooding, fire or other weather conditions.
Visit the www.clusterduckprotocol.orgto see more info about the tech, current projects, and how you can get involved. There you will find documentation and videos how to dig in regardless of your skill set.