 Wireless Sensor Network Testbed
A collaboration between members of the UnWiReD Lab and NIM Lab has led to the development of a Wireless Sensor Network (WiSeNet) Testbed.
WiSeNet nodes are equipped with electro-mechanically steerable directional
antennas. This testbed is used to study sensor network self-assembly
and autonomous operation in power limited scenarios.
| Group Members: |
Dr. Michael Fitz and Dr. William Kaiser
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Henrik Borkstrom |
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David Browne |
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Vishwa Goudar |
Project Summary:
Energy is a limited resource in remote sensor networks deployed over large undeveloped areas.
Following ad hoc deployment of nodes, the first task in establishing
communications in the sensor network is a search by each node for it's nearest
neighbor nodes. Searches must achieve the shortest time to acquire a
link using as little energy as possible.
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| Figure 1: Illustration of a sensor network topology during initial self discovery search. |
Search energy efficiency is a function of the radio hardware and
software technology, the antenna, and channel path loss between
nodes. Equipping sensor nodes with high throughput digital radios is an
attractive intra-nodal communications solution because ad hoc
geographic placement of nodes is a desirable deployment topology.
The WiSeNet testbed focuses on designs in which nodes are equipped with
combinations of three radio technologies (Figure 2), including:
- an IEEE 802.11b compliant short-range wideband radio
- a long-range narrowband digital radio
- a GPS radio receiver.
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Figure 2: An example WiSeNet node configuration.
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Each of these three radios can be leveraged to affect a nodes first
contact search strategy in a way that maximizes energy efficiency and
minimizes search time.
The node's wideband radio is coupled to a highly directional antenna
mounted on an electro-mechanically steerable platform (Figure 3).
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Figure 3: A highly directional 2.4GHz patch antenna mounted on a electromechanical steering actuator.
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