Sensors&Networking

The objective of this workpackage is to design the sensor node architecture, the sensor node system software, and energy-efficient networking mechanisms for dynamic sensor networks.

The approach is to improve the functional lifetime of the sensor network using energy-efficient network protocols and routing techniques, and dynamic power management techniques. Many routing, power management and data dissemination protocols rely on timing and position information. In this workpackage we address these issues as well, by methods based on collaborative techniques and incremental accuracy.

In this workpackage we will first study the feasibility of current technologies and protocols. We will define and implement the interface and algorithms that enable sensor nodes to function as reconfigurable smart sensor nodes. Since the environment is highly time varying, the system hardware and software should adapt, smart algorithms and control are required to select the right alternative at any moment. Moreover, the network might have some stochastic behaviour due to for example energy harvesting periods, or error patterns on a link. This dynamic and changing environment will have a great influence on the design of the protocols; solutions and opportunities related to this stochastic phenomenon will be pursued.

Practical issues play an important role and cannot easily be abstracted from; details do matter when crafting an embedded system. Therefore, we use an experimental approach where we validate research results on a wireless network. Within WP2 small-scale (10+ nodes) sensor networks will be built to evaluate the mechanisms developed within this workpackage.