Wireless Sensor Networks
Kyle Cruz Billy York
St. Edward’s University
Agenda
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Background/vocabulary of WSNs, wireless sensor
networks
Some applications of WSNs
Components of a WSN
Setting up a WSN with local mote programming
Setting up a WSN with Over The Air Programming
Summarize project results and references
Vocabulary
Mote from remote as in a wireless transceiver that
is also a remote sensor
WSN Wireless Sensor Network
OTAP Over the Air Programming
Hopping data is transmitted from mote to mote
until the packet (data) reaches the base
Sensor a device capable of sending a reading
Gateway base station
Senior Project a requirement at St. Edwards. A 3 hour course.
Our Project
Deploy a WSN in science building/greenhouse
Use ‘local’ technique to program motes
Use ‘OTAP’ technique to program motes
Investigate and report on deployment logistics
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A mote consists of 4 components
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Sensor(s) board
Microprocessor
Transceiver
Power supply
Sensors are available to sense light, temperature,
magnetism, acceleration, sound. Virtually any sensor that
can send analog data can be used.
Powered by batteries or ac power
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The sensor board from Crossbow with
microphone
thermistor
light sensor
magnometer
two-axis accelerometer
sounder.
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Microprocessors have their own language (a
small vocabulary to support a small footprint)
128k memory,7mhz processor, 4kb Static
RAM for storing data and variables.
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Because the motes hardware is so confined they
require specialized operating system known as
TinyOS.
NesC is the language used to program TinyOS
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Packet consisting of
 MoteID
 GroupID
 Date – time
 Sensor readings
 ParentNode
Packets sent
 Frequency – how often
 Amount of data
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A base station – programming board and mote
Two or three motes, minimum
Accompanying software suite to
 Program motes (set up network, set timer, …)
 Gather data from the base station
 Load data into a database
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PC or Server to run the software
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The base station is a mote programmed with base software
attached to a programming board which is connected to a
host
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The base station is the key part of a WSN, it receives all the
data sent by wireless sensors and is used to program motes
before they are deployed
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The host is used to store data through a supplied database in
the software.
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‘Local’ attach the mote to a programming board
which is connected to the host via ethernet cable
or serial port.
‘Over The Air Programming’ (OTAP).
 Locally, install/program the mote to receive
commands over the air from a base station.
 Then, when deployed, it can be re-programmed from
the base station and not brought in from the field.
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Many motes together make a Wireless Sensor
Network (WSN)
In WSNs motes form a network by
communicating, listening and transmitting
information to and from each other and a base
station mote.
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A wireless sensor that derives the power necessary for it operation from
environmental vibrations. The primary purpose of the project is to
demonstrate vibration-based power scavenging and its integration into a
self-contained wireless sensor that measures and communicates some
measured property of the platform, in the present case the temperature.
http://www.rlwinc.com/
MoteTrack is a robust, decentralized location tracking system based on
TinyOS motes (Mica2, MicaZ, Telos). MoteTrack allows motes can
determine their own location to within 1-2 meter accuracy by comparing
received radio signals to a replicated database of stored signatures.
http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~konrad/projects/motetrack/
Other projects can be found at http://www.tinyos.net
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Moteview – GUI to view data received, the
network, graphs, basic configuration of motes
Moteconfig – programming the motes
Programmers Notepad – source code IDE
Xserve – interface between database and base
station
PostgreSQL – database management system
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Crossbow Technologies
Dust Networks
Spectrum Technologies
References for pricing
Crossbow Technologies http://www.xbow.com/Home/HomePage.aspx
Dust Networks
http://www.dustnetworks.com/flash-index.shtml
Microstain
http://www.microstrain.com/wireless-sensors.aspx?gclid=CMS7qrykzYsCFQJjSgodEA5XEA
Intellisensing
http://www.intellisensing.com/
Microdaq
http://www.microdaq.com/accsense/index.php?gclid=CKq168umzYsCFSYiSgod3Q9PBA
PointSix Wireless
http://www.pointsix.com/cgi-bin/PointSix.cgi?Point_Sensors
Crossbow Classroom Kit
http://www.xbow.com/Products/productdetails.asp
x?sid=233
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WSN Projects
http://faculty.stedwards.edu/laurab/wsn/
http://wireless.industrial-networking.com/articles/articles.asp
http://webs.cs.berkeley.edu/users/select_users.php
http://www.tinyos.net/