Wireless sensor network

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a computer network consisting of spatially
distributed autonomous devices using sensors to cooperatively monitor physical or
environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound, vibration, pressure, motion or
pollutants, at different locations.
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#he development of wireless sensor networks was
originally motivated by military applications such as battlefield surveillance.
$owever, wireless sensor networks are now used in many civilian application areas,
including environment and habitat monitoring, healthcare applications, home
automation, and traffic control.
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&n addition to one or more sensors, each node in a sensor network is typically
e'uipped with a radio transceiver or other wireless communications device, a small
microcontroller, and an energy source, usually a battery. #he si(e a single sensor node
can vary from shoebo)*si(ed nodes down to devices the si(e of grain of dust.
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#he
cost of sensor nodes is similarly variable, ranging from hundreds of dollars to a few
cents, depending on the si(e of the sensor network and the comple)ity re'uired of
individual sensor nodes.
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Si(e and cost constraints on sensor nodes result in
corresponding constraints on resources such as energy, memory, computational speed
and bandwidth.
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&n computer science, wireless sensor networks are an active research area with
numerous workshops and conferences arranged each year.
Applications
#he applications for WSNs are many and varied. #hey are used in commercial and
industrial applications to monitor data that would be difficult or e)pensive to monitor
using wired sensors. #hey could be deployed in wilderness areas, where they would
remain for many years (monitoring some environmental variable) without the need to
recharge+replace their power supplies. #hey could form a perimeter about a property
and monitor the progression of intruders (passing information from one node to the
ne)t). #here are a many uses for WSNs.
#ypical applications of WSNs include monitoring, tracking, and controlling. Some of
the specific applications are habitat monitoring, ob,ect tracking, nuclear reactor
controlling, fire detection, traffic monitoring, etc. &n a typical application, a WSN is
scattered in a region where it is meant to collect data through its sensor nodes.
-nvironmental monitoring
$abitat monitoring
Acoustic detection
Seismic .etection
/ilitary surveillance
&nventory tracking
/edical monitoring
Smart spaces
0rocess /onitoring
Area monitoring
Area monitoring is a typical application of WSNs. &n area monitoring, the WSN is
deployed over a region where some phenomenon is to be monitored. As an e)ample, a
large 'uantity of sensor nodes could be deployed over a battlefield to detect enemy
intrusion instead of using landmines. When the sensors detect the event being
monitored (heat, pressure, sound, light, electro*magnetic field, vibration, etc), the
event needs to be reported to one of the base stations, which can take appropriate
action (e.g., send a message on the internet or to a satellite). .epending on the e)act
application, different ob,ective functions will re'uire different data*propagation
strategies, depending on things such as need for real-time response, redundancy of the
data (which can be tackled via data aggregation techni'ues), need for security, etc.
Characteristics
1ni'ue characteristics of a WSN are2
Small*scale sensor nodes
3imited power they can harvest or store
$arsh environmental conditions
Node failures
/obility of nodes
.ynamic network topology
4ommunication failures
$eterogeneity of nodes
3arge scale of deployment
1nattended operation
Sensor nodes can be imagined as small computers, e)tremely basic in terms of their
interfaces and their components. #hey usually consist of a processing unit with
limited computational power and limited memory, sensors (including specific
conditioning circuitry), a communication device (usually radio transceivers or
alternatively optical), and a power source usually in the form of a battery. 5ther
possible inclusions are energy harvesting modules, secondary AS&4s, and possibly
secondary communication devices (e.g. 6S%7% or 1S8).
#he base stations are one or more distinguished components of the WSN with much
more computational, energy and communication resources. #hey act as a gateway
between sensor nodes and the end user.
Platforms
Hardware
#he main challenge is to produce low cost and tiny sensor nodes. With respect to these
ob,ectives, current sensor nodes are mainly prototypes. /iniaturi(ation and low cost
are understood to follow from recent and future progress in the fields of /-/S and
N-/S. Some of the e)isting sensor nodes are given below. Some of the nodes are
still in research stage.
Atlas (0ervasa+1niversity of 9lorida) (http2++www.pervasa.com+)
8-AN 0ro,ect
(http2++www.dcc.ufmg.br+:mmvieira+publications+bean.pdf;search<
=%%8-AN=%>bra(ilian=%>sensor=%>node=%%)
8#node (-#$ ?urich) (http2++www.btnode.eth(.ch)
4orte) 0ro,ect
45#S .ust (.ust Networks) (http2++www.dustnetworks.com+ spun out of 14
8erkeley)
-@-S 0ro,ect (http2++eyes.eu.org Server down")
$oarder 8oard (/&# /edia 3ab)
(http2++vadim.oversigma.com+$oarder+$oarder.htm)
/ica /ote (4rossbow) (http2++www.)bow.com+0roducts+productsdetails.asp)A
sid<B%)
SensiNet Smart Sensors (Sensicast Systems) (http2++www.sensicast.com)
Sensor Webs (SensorWare Systems) (http2++www.sensorwaresystems.com+
spun out of the NASA+C03 Sensor Webs 0ro,ect)
Smart .ust (.ust Networks) (http2++www.dustnetworks.com+ spun out of 14
8erkeley)
W&NS (6ockwell) (Wireless &ntegrated Network Sensors)
W&NS (143A)
D@? node (http2++www.eng.yale.edu+enalab+D@?+)
Standards
?ig8ee
Blowpan
Software
-nergy is the scarcest resource of WSN nodes, and it determines the lifetime of
WSNs. WSNs are meant to be deployed in large numbers in various environments,
including remote and hostile regions, with ad*hoc communications as key. 9or this
reason, algorithms and protocols need to address the following issues2
3ifetime ma)imi(ation
6obustness and fault tolerance
Self*configuration
Amongst the hot topics in WSN software, the following can also be pointed out2
Security
/obility (when sensor nodes or base stations are moving)
/iddleware2 the design of middle*level primitives between the software and
the hardware
Operating systems
8ertha (pushpin computing platform)
8#nut Nut+5S
4ontiki
456/5S2 A 4ommunication 5riented 6untime System for Sensor Networks
-@-S5S
/agnet5S
/AN#&S (/ultimodAl Ne#works &n*situ Sensors)
Sen5S
S5S
#iny5S
Middleware
#here is a need and considerable research efforts currently invested in the design of
middleware for WSNEs. #here are various research efforts in developing middleware
for wireless sensor networks.
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&n general approaches can be classified into distributed
database, mobile agents, and event*based.
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AutoSec
45/iS
451FA6
.SWare
-nviro*#rack
Flobal Sensor NetworksGFSN (Application 5riented /iddleware for sensor
networks)!".
&mpala
/agnet5S
/i3AN
SensorWare
S&NA
#iny.8
#inyFA3S
Programming languages
0rogramming the sensor nodes is difficult when compared to the normal computer
systems. #he resource constrained nature of these nodes gives rise to new
programming models.
cHt (4omputation at a point in space (H) #ime )
.43 (.istributed 4ompositional 3anguage)
gals4
nes4
0rotothreads
SNA4I
SJ#3
Algorithms
WSNs are composed of a large number of sensor nodes, therefore, an algorithm for a
WSN is implicitly a distributed algorithm. &n WSNs the scarcest resource is energy,
and one of the most energy*e)pensive operation is data transmission. 9or this reason,
algorithmic research in WSN mostly focuses on the study and design of energy aware
algorithms for data transmission from the sensor nodes to the bases stations. .ata
transmission is usually multi*hop (from node to node, towards the base stations), due
to the polynomial growth in the energy*cost of radio tranmission with respect to the
tranmission distance.
#he algorithmic approach to WSN differentiates itself from the protocol approach by
the fact that the mathematical models used are more abstract, more general, but
sometimes less realistic than the models used for protocol design.
Simulators
#here are platforms specifically designed to simulate Wireless Sensor Networks, like
#5SS&/, which is a part of #iny5S. #raditional network simulators like ns*% have
also been used. Apart from the above mentioned simulators, there are other simulators
in the literature.
-mstar * An -nvironment for .eveloping Wireless -mbedded Systems
Software
Flo/oSim * F3obal /5bile &nformation systems S&/ulator, a scalable
simulation environment for wireless and wired network systems
S-NS * a sensor environment and network simulator
C*Sim * a component*based, compositional simulation environmentG formerly
known as CavaSim
SWAN * Simulator for Wireless Ad*$oc Networks
SensorSim * a patch to the NS*% simulator
#ython * a dynamic simulation environment for sensor networks
WiseNet
A#-/1
5pSeNet
5/Ne#KK * a modular, easy*to*use discrete event simulator with many
e)tensions for wireless network simulations
50#N-#
Sidh
Avrora
Shawn * discrete event simulator designed with the simulation of large
wireless sensor networks in mind
0rowler and C0rowler
AlgoSenSim * an algorithm oriented sensor network simulator
Commercial sensor nodes
#he following lists some of the sensor nodes on the market.
8#node (-#$ ?urich, Swit(erland)
&ntel motes
Sun S05# Small 0rogrammable 5b,ect #echnology (Sun microsystems)
/&4A( motes (4rossbow technology)
#/ote Sky
#&0 series mote (/a)for)
i.wa69*!BL 0rogrammable 6adio /odule (chipMN.com)
SensiNet Smart Sensors (Sensicast Systems)
ata !isuali"ation
#he data gathered from wireless sensor networks is usually saved in the form of
numerical data in a central base station. #here are many programs, like #osF1& and
/onSense,FSN that facilitate the viewing of these large amounts of data.
Additionally, the 5pen Feospatial 4onsortium (5F4) is specifying standards for
interoperability interfaces and metadata encodings that enable real time integration of
heterogeneous sensor webs into the &nternet, allowing any individual to monitor or
control Wireless Sensor Networks through a Web 8rowser.
#esearch centers
-)amples of ma,or academic centers for research in wireless sensor networks are
4&#6&S at 8erkeley and 4-NS at 143A, in the 1SA and the N446 /&4S in
Swit(erland.
C$%S
#he 4enter for -mbedded Networked Systems (4-NS) at the 1niversity of
4alifornia, 3os Angeles, directed by .eborah -strin, is a leading research center with
OM> million in core funding from the National Science 9oundation %".
C&'#&S
#he 4enter for &nformation #echnology 6esearch in the &nterest of Society (4&#6&S)
at the 1niversity of 4alifornia, 8erkeley, currently directed by S. Shankar Sastry, is a
O7>> million multicampus research center that includes research and development of
wireless sensor networks, and has used them to study microclimate variations in
individual redwood trees 7".
%CC# M&CS
#he N446 /&4S was launched in %>>! and is currently in its second round. &t
involves research institutions, universities and corporate partners from all over
Swit(erland. &t is performing research in mobile information and communication
systems, with a strong emphasis on wireless sensor networks and novel self*
organi(ing networks and information systems.
MA&()roup at 'yndall
#he /icroelectronic Applications &ntegration (/A&), sector of the #yndall National
&nstitute in 4ork, &reland, headed by .r. 4ian 5E/athuna, is currently involved in
developing microsensing and microactuation devices for use in miniaturised wireless
sensor networks. &n particular the Ambient #echnology Froup is developing modular
interchangeable hardware layers for use in many sensor network applications.
Conferences
SenSys * A4/ 4onference on -mbedded Networked Sensor Systems
&0SN * A4/+&--- &nternational 4onference on &nformation 0rocessing in
Sensor Networks
-WSN * -uropean 4onference on Wireless Sensor Networks
S-45N * &--- 4ommunications Society 4onference on Sensor and Ad $oc
4ommunications and Networks
.45SS
Algosensor
See also
Smartdust
/esh networking
/obile ad*hoc network (/AN-#S)
#eferences
!. P
a

b

c

d

e
6Qmer, Iay, 9riedemann /attern (.ecember %>>M). R#he .esign
Space of Wireless Sensor NetworksR. IEEE Wireless Communications ** (B)2
NM*B!.
%. P
a

b
$adim, Salem, Nader /ohamed (%>>B). R/iddleware 4hallenges and
Approaches for Wireless Sensor NetworksR. IEEE Distributed Systems Online
+ (7). art. no. >B>7*o7>>!.
7. , 6Qmer, Iay (9ebruary %>>M). R0rogramming 0aradigms and /iddleware for
Sensor NetworksR. GI/IG !achgespr"ch Sensornet#e$ %arlsruhe.
Further reading
&n !D'(ed e)tboo* on Sensor +etwor*s,-., #homas $aenselmann.
Wireless Sensor +etwor*s, 4auligi S. 6aghavendra (-ditor), Irishna /.
Sivalingam (-ditor), #aieb ?nati.
Wireless Sensor +etwor*s/ &rchitectures and 0rotocols, -dgar $. 4allaway, Cr.
and -dgar $. 4allaway, 464 0ress, August %>>7, 7N% pages.
In1ormation 0rocessing in Sensor +etwor*s, 9eng ?hao, and 3eonidas C.
Fuibas (-ds).
2andboo* o1 sensor networ*s3 algorithms and architectures, -dited by &van
Sto,menovic, Wiley*&nterscience, %>>N, N7! pages.
Wireless Sensor +etwor* & Systems 0erspective, Nirupama 8ulusu, San,ay
Cha, Artech $ouse, 0ublished Culy %>>N, &S8N !*NL>N7*LBS*7
0rotocols and &rchitectures 1or Wireless Sensor +etwor*s, $olger Iarl,
Andreas Willig, &S8N >*MS>*>TN!!*7, N%B pages, Canuary %>>B
&dhoc and Sensor +etwor*s heory and &pplications, 4arlos de /orais
4ordeiro (0hilips 6esearch North America, 1SA) U .harma 0rakash Agrawal
(1niversity of 4incinnati, 1SA), /arch %>>B.
+etwor*ing Wireless Sensors, 8haskar Irishnamachari (1niversity of
Southern 4alifornia), (&S8N*!72 TSL>N%!L7LMSM V &S8N*!>2 >N%!L7LMST)
Energy Scavenging 1or Wireless Sensor +etwor*s/ With Special !ocus on
4ibrations, Shad 6oundy, 0aul Ienneth Wright, Can /. 6abaey, %7% pages,
Iluwer Academic 0ublishersG (Canuary !, %>>M), &S8N !*M>%>*SBB7*>.
Distributed Sensor +etwor*s5$ S6 S6 Iyengar$ 76 76 8roo*s$ Chapman 9
2all/C7C3 :October ;;$ ;<<-=$ IS8+ >-?@-@@-A@A-B 6
2andboo* o1 Sensor +etwor*s/ Compact Wireless and Wired Sensing Systems,
/ohammad &lyas, &mad /ahgoub, BS% pages 464 0ressG (Culy !B, %>>M),
&S8N >*LMT7*!TBL*M .
&lgorithmic &spects O1 Wireless Sensor +etwor*s (3ecture Notes in 4omputer
Science)R, Sotiris Nikoletseas, Cose 6olim, Springer*WerlagG (September 7>,
%>>M), &S8N 7*NM>*%%MSB*T .
Cobile$ Wireless$ and Sensor +etwor*s / echnology$ &pplications$ and !uture
Directions 6a,eev Shorey, A. Ananda, /un 4hoon 4han, Wei #sang 5oi,
&S8N >*MS!*SNNNL*7, M%% pages, /arch %>>B .
-ournals
International Dournal o1 Distributed Sensor +etwor*s,?.
$.ternal links
5verview of wireless sensor networks (&--- 4omputer Society)
3ecture on Sensor Networks incl. slides, e)ercises and sample solutions
(1niversity of /annheim)
Wireless Sensor Networks #raining Seminar (4rossbow #echnology)
Wireless 4ommunications and Sensor Networks ($arvard)
Sensor Network Systems (Stanford)
Wireless Sensor Networks (course reading package available online)
Wireless Sensor Networks with slides and e)ercises * partially in Ferman
(&nstitute for 0ervasive 4omputing, -#$ ?urich)