Low-Power Wireless Distributed SIMD Architecture Concept: An 8051 Based Remote Execution Unit

Power has become a critical aspect in the design of modern wireless systems, especially in passive device nodes such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, sensor nodes etc. Passive RFID tags in particular use simple logic that is used to respond with a unique code or data to identify objects when queried by an interrogator, whereas wireless passive sensor devices use microcontrollers for sensor data processing. There is a need for a Minimal Instruction Set Architecture (MISA) for such passive nodes with regard to low power. In this context, passive node capabilities need to be explored, possibly to suit target applications, in order to enable more than just identification and perhaps less than those of a conventional microcontroller Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). This dissertation research demonstrates a low-power wireless distributed processor architecture concept. The data and program instructions are stored on a powered interrogator providing wireless supervisory control for the remote passive node that has a basic processing core called the remote execution unit (REU). The interrogator and the passive node (REU) combination can be viewed as a complete processor or as multiple processing units forming the basis for a wireless distributed Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) processor. This research introduces and investigates the REU architecture using an 8051-MISA with the goal of reducing power consumption of the system. A novel low power data-driven symbol decoder-CRC along with the 8051-MISA based execution core design form the frontend and core part of the REU architecture. Clocked and asynchronous digital logic implementations of the REU core design are presented and correspondingly the power, area and speed comparisons are also provided. Lack of strong support by commercial CAD tools is a major hurdle for synthesis of asynchronous designs. This research also presents a high-level design flow used to implement the asynchronous logic for the REU using traditional clocked CAD flows. This research work demonstrates immense potential to realize low power wireless passive sensor nodes for biomedical, automation, environmental, etc., applications especially while providing the basis for a programmable passive remote unit for distributed processing

Automated Production Line Monitoring System Using Embedded Rfid

In industrial manufacturing, wireless network can be used in supply-chain, retail stock management, electronic security keys, and theft prevention. Manufacturers require an efficient communication and real time feedback to maximize uptime, improve productivity, and provide cost effective solution advancement. This research proposed automated production line monitoring system using embedded RFID through wireless mesh sensor network (WMSN) platform and smart data processing adopted through web-based monitoring system. Embedded devices in the automated production line monitoring system is capable to work as individual units or work together with multiple terminal links such as in WMSN and provide Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication solution. The reading range capabilities of the proposed system have been tested in the WMSN platform in real world industrial environment. The results obtained shows that the reading range is able to achieve 123 m with the highest power of +3 dBm in Line-of-Sight (LOS). In data collision evaluation with WMSN platform, the average percentage of data received achieved merely 100%. In multi-hop network, the overall proposed system collection time is about 37% lower than the existing RFID tags. Response time within the same specifications shows that the developed server is faster by 30% compared to the existing database. Hence, this is compatible with the output monitoring system since the input is continuously fed based on the standard time of a certain product. The proposed integrated wireless infrastructures are able to minimize approximately 50% of cost compared to other local vendor with wired solutions. In addition, 75% reduction of downtime in the production line which causes the increase in productivity and yield is recorded due to the effective monitoring

Integration of RFID and Industrial WSNs to Create A Smart Industrial Environment

A smart environment is a physical space that is seamlessly embedded with sensors, actuators, displays, and computing devices, connected through communication networks for data collection, to enable various pervasive applications. Radio frequency identification (RFID) and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be used to create such smart environments, performing sensing, data acquisition, and communication functions, and thus connecting physical devices together to form a smart environment. This thesis first examines the features and requirements a smart industrial environment. It then focuses on the realization of such an environment by integrating RFID and industrial WSNs. ISA100.11a protocol is considered in particular for WSNs, while High Frequency RFID is considered for this thesis. This thesis describes designs and implementation of the hardware and software architecture necessary for proper integration of RFID and WSN systems. The hardware architecture focuses on communication interface and AI/AO interface circuit design; while the driver of the interface is implemented through embedded software. Through Web-based Human Machine Interface (HMI), the industrial users can monitor the process parameters, as well as send any necessary alarm information. In addition, a standard Mongo database is designed, allowing access to historical and current data to gain a more in-depth understanding of the environment being created. The information can therefore be uploaded to an IoT Cloud platform for easy access and storage. Four scenarios for smart industrial environments are mimicked and tested in a laboratory to demonstrate the proposed integrated system. The experimental results have showed that the communication from RFID reader to WSN node and the real-time wireless transmission of the integrated system meet design requirements. In addition, compared to a traditional wired PLC system where measurement error of the integrated system is less than 1%. The experimental results are thus satisfactory, and the design specifications have been achieved

Supporting Cyber-Physical Systems with Wireless Sensor Networks: An Outlook of Software and Services

Sensing, communication, computation and control technologies are the essential building blocks of a cyber-physical system (CPS). Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are a way to support CPS as they provide fine-grained spatial-temporal sensing, communication and computation at a low premium of cost and power. In this article, we explore the fundamental concepts guiding the design and implementation of WSNs. We report the latest developments in WSN software and services for meeting existing requirements and newer demands; particularly in the areas of: operating system, simulator and emulator, programming abstraction, virtualization, IP-based communication and security, time and location, and network monitoring and management. We also reflect on the ongoing efforts in providing dependable assurances for WSN-driven CPS. Finally, we report on its applicability with a case-study on smart buildings

2012 PWST Workshop Summary

No abstract availabl

Wireless Sensor Technology Selection for I4.0 Manufacturing Systems

The term smart manufacturing has surfaced as an industrial revolution in Germany known as Industry 4.0 (I4.0); this revolution aims to help the manufacturers adapt to turbulent market trends. Its main scope is implementing machine communication, both vertically and horizontally across the manufacturing hierarchy through Internet of things (IoT), technologies and servitization concepts. The main objective of this research is to help manufacturers manage the high levels of variety and the extreme turbulence of market trends through developing a selection tool that utilizes Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques to recommend a suitable industrial wireless sensor network (IWSN) technology that fits their manufacturing requirements.In this thesis, IWSN technologies and their properties were identified, analyzed and compared to identify their potential suitability for different industrial manufacturing system application areas. The study included the identification and analysis of different industrial system types, their application areas, scenarios and respective communication requirements. The developed tool’s sensitivity is also tested to recommend different IWSN technology options with changing influential factors. Also, a prioritizing protocol is introduced in the case where more than one IWSN technology options are recommended by the AHP tool.A real industrial case study with the collaboration of SPM Automation Inc. is presented, where the industrial systems’ class, communication traffic types, and communication requirements were analyzed to recommend a suitable IWSN technology that fits their requirements and assists their shift towards I4.0 through utilizing AHP techniques. The results of this research will serve as a step forward, in the transformation process of manufacturing towards a more digitalized and better connected cyber-physical systems; thus, enhancing manufacturing attributes such as flexibility, reconfigurability, scalability and easing the shift towards implementing I4.0

Experimental implementation of an IoT platform for automatic actuation in a building

L'Internet de les coses (IoT), i específicament el seu ús per a Smart Buildings, ha augmentat en popularitat en els darrers anys, gràcies a les millores en les tecnologies de comunicacions i en hardware que fa que sigui més fàcil que mai poder interconnectar dispositius. Un dels principals punts d'interès, particularment dels Smart Buildings, és la capacitat de millorar l'eficiència energètica i reduir el malbaratament, ajustant automàticament els recursos de l'edifici i proporcionar als usuaris més comoditat. Tenint en compte aquest concepte i intentant millorar la proactivitat dels Smart Buildings per gestionar de manera més eficient els recursos, la tesi "Design and simulation of an interoperable IoT platform for automatic actuation in buildings" proposa una solució, i la prova en un escenari virtual, modelant i simulant aquesta implementació. Seguint aquesta idea, en aquest projecte vam portar aspectes d'aquesta solució teòrica a un entorn real. Vam implementat una Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) a l'edifici, amb sensors i gateways, per tal de controlar i documentar els resultats d'una implementació real i la seva viabilitat. Les nostres conclusions criden l'atenció sobre les diferències entre els resultats obtinguts dels sensors simulats i els de sensors reals, així com els obstacles que s'han trobat durant l'experiment, oferint solucions per a dissenys futurs.The Internet of Things (IoT), and specifically its use for Smart Buildings, has been on the rise in the last few years thanks to improvements in wireless communications and hardware that make it easier than ever to interconnect devices. One of the main points of interest of Smart Buildings, in particular, is the ability to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste, automatically adjusting the building's resources and providing users with higher comfort. With this concept in mind, and trying to improve the proactiveness of Smart Buildings to more efficiently manage resources, the thesis "Design and simulation of an interoperable IoT platform for automatic actuation in buildings" proposes a solution and tests it in a virtual scenario, modeling the sensor values and simulating this implementation. Furthering this idea, in this project we brought aspects of this theoretical solution to a real environment. We implemented a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) through the building, with real sensors and gateways, in order to monitor and document the results of a real implementation and its viability. Our conclusions draw attention to the differences between the simulated and real sensor implementations, as well as the obstacles that have been found during the experiment, offering solutions for future designs