SWE3003- Sensor Networks

Faculty Name: Dr. A. ILAVENDHAN

School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCOPE)
Requirements of Wireless Sensor
Networks (WSNs)
• Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are collections of spatially distributed
autonomous sensors that monitor physical or environmental conditions like
temperature, humidity, pressure, or motion.
• Key requirements for deploying and maintaining WSNs effectively:
• Hardware Requirements
• Network Requirements
• Energy Efficiency
• Robustness and Reliability
• Security
• Software Requirements
• Environmental Adaptability
• Quality of Service (QoS)
Hardware Requirements
• Sensors: To collect data from the environment (e.g., temperature,
pressure, humidity sensors).

• Communication Modules: Low-power radios for wireless data

transmission.

• Power Source: Typically batteries, but energy harvesting methods (e.g.,

solar, vibration) can also be used.

• Processing Unit: Embedded microcontrollers for data computation and

communication management.

• Memory: To store and buffer sensed data temporarily before transmission.

Network Requirements
• Scalability: The network should support a large number of nodes as
needed.

• Coverage: Sensors should ensure full area coverage without data

gaps.

• Connectivity: Reliable and efficient communication between nodes

and the base station.

• Topology Management: Support for various topologies (star, mesh,

tree) and dynamic reconfiguration to adapt to failures or changes.
Energy Efficiency
•Low Power Consumption:

• Sensors must be designed to consume minimal energy since most nodes are
battery-powered.

•Efficient Protocols:

• Use energy-efficient communication and routing protocols to maximize

network lifespan.
Robustness and Reliability
• Fault Tolerance:

• The network should continue functioning even when some nodes fail.

• Self-Healing Capabilities:

• Ability to reroute data and maintain network operation in case of

disruptions.
Security
• Data Integrity:
• Prevent unauthorized alterations to the data.

• Authentication:
• Secure communication by ensuring only legitimate nodes participate.

• Data Confidentiality:
• Encrypt sensitive data to prevent interception.

• Resilience to Attacks:
• Protection against jamming, spoofing, and physical node tampering.
Software Requirements
• Middleware:

• Simplifies the development and deployment of applications.

• Operating System:

• Lightweight and energy-efficient OS (e.g., TinyOS, Contiki).

• Data Aggregation and Processing Algorithms:

• To reduce redundant transmissions and save energy.

• Event Detection Algorithms:

• For real-time responses to specific triggers.

Environmental Adaptability
•Weather Resistance: Hardware must endure extreme temperatures, humidity, or
other environmental conditions.

•Mobility Support: Required for applications like tracking or mobile sensing.

Quality of Service (QoS):

•Latency: Timely delivery of critical data.

•Accuracy: Ensuring precise and reliable measurements.

•Throughput: Maintaining sufficient data rates for the application.

Application of WSN
Environmental Monitoring: Forest fire detection, air pollution, or water quality
monitoring.

Healthcare: Patient health monitoring through wearable sensors.

Industrial Automation: Equipment health monitoring, process optimization.

Smart Homes and Cities: Energy management, security systems, and traffic
monitoring.

Military Applications: Surveillance, reconnaissance, and battlefield monitoring.

Mote Technology
• “Mote" refers to a small, low-power device that typically consists of sensors, a
processing unit, and communication capabilities.
• These motes are designed to gather data from the environment, process that
data locally, and communicate wirelessly with other motes within the network.

Key Features of Mote Technology:

1.Small Size: Motes are compact, often comparable to the size of a coin or smaller, facilitating discreet deployment.

2.Wireless Communication: They use wireless protocols (e.g., Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) for transmitting data to a
central system or neighboring motes.

3.Sensors and Actuators: Equipped with sensors for measuring physical parameters like temperature, humidity,
light, motion, and actuators for responding to environmental changes.

4.Low Power Consumption: Optimized for energy efficiency, often powered by batteries or energy harvesting (e.g.,
solar panels).

5.Distributed Processing: Motes often perform preliminary data processing to reduce the load on central systems
and minimize data transmission.
 Mote Technology
A mote is a node in WSN but a node is not always a mote.
• Rene
• The Berkley Rene motes were developed in 1999 by CrossBow Technologies.
• MicaZ
• It is a third generation mote family from CrossBow Technology used for enabling low
power wireless sensor networks.
• IRIS
• It is a latest wireless sensor network module from Crossbow Technologies. It includes
several improvements over the Mica2 / MicaZ family of products. This mote features
several new capabilities that enhance the overall functionalities of sensor network
projects.
Mote Technology
• SHIMMER
• (Sensing Health with Intelligence, Modularity, Mobility, and Experimental
Reusability) is a wireless sensor platform designed to support wearable
applications. It is currently available from Real Time Ltd.

• TelosB
• Wireless sensor modules developed from research carried out at UC
Berkeley and currently available in similar form factors from both Sentilla
and CrossBow Technology.

• Sun SPOT:
• The Sun “Small Programmable Object Technology” (SPOT) is a wireless
sensor network mote from Sun Microsystems.
Mote Technology
• LOTUS
• The Lotus is an advanced wireless sensor node platform.
• The Lotus platform features several new capabilities that enhance the
overall functionality of MEMSIC’s wireless sensor networking products
Mote Technology
Mote Technology
Mote Technology
Mote Technology
Applications of Mote Technology:

•Environmental Monitoring: Tracking weather patterns, pollution levels, or

wildlife habitats.

•Smart Agriculture: Monitoring soil moisture, temperature, and other conditions

to optimize farming practices.

•Healthcare: Wearable motes for patient monitoring or remote health diagnostics.

•Industrial Automation: Monitoring machinery, detecting anomalies, and ensuring

safety in factories.

•Smart Cities: Supporting IoT (Internet of Things) applications like smart lighting,
traffic management, and waste collection.
Key characteristics of motes in WSNs include:
1.Low Power: Motes are usually designed to operate on low power
to prolong their battery life. This is important for applications where
the devices may be deployed in remote or hard-to-reach locations.
2.Sensors: Motes are equipped with sensors to measure various
environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, and
more. The types of sensors depend on the specific application.
3.Communication: Motes use wireless communication protocols to
exchange data with other motes in the network. This allows them to
form a network that can collectively monitor a larger area.
4.Processing Capability: While motes are not as powerful as
traditional computers, they have sufficient processing capability to
perform basic computations and data processing locally.
5.Scalability: WSNs can be easily scaled by deploying a large
number of motes, allowing for comprehensive coverage of an area.
Mote Technology
Challenges:

•Energy Management: Prolonging battery life remains a critical concern.

•Data Security: Ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data in wireless

communication.

•Scalability: Managing large networks with numerous motes.

•Interference: Handling signal interference in crowded wireless environments.