Design and implementation of an opportunistic network based on IEEE 802.15.4

Les xarxes de sensors sense fils constitueixen un dels principals àmbits on s'han focalitzat els esforços dels entorns acadèmics i de la indústria. Les xarxes de sensors sense fils possibiliten un ampli ventall d'aplicacions de control i monitorització, que permeten l'automatització de tasques i donen pas a nous paradigmes, com l'anomenada "intel·ligència ambiental", o "La Internet de les coses". Un dels escenaris d'interès dins de les xarxes de sensors, i també en altres tipus de xarxes, és el de les xarxes formades per dispositius que es mouen i que realitzen algun tipus de trajectòria repetitiva. Un exemple és el dels autobusos municipals, que segueixen una ruta preestablerta. Es pot aprofitar el fet que l'autobús passa tard o d'hora per tota la ruta, per recollir i transportar dades dels punts pels quals ha passat. En aquest tipus d'escenaris, es pot fer servir un encaminament anomenat oportunístic, que es basa en aprofitar la connectivitat entre els nodes en aquells moments en dos o més nodes són prou a prop. Aquest projecte proposa el disseny i implementació en dispositius reals IEEE 802.15.4 d'un sistema de xarxa oportunística per a la recollida de dades ambientals

MAC protocol for location systems

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e TelecomunicaçõesNa ultima década as redes de comunicações sem fios sofreram uma evolução sem precedentes, e as suas características particulares potenciaram a sua aplicação em vários contextos. No caso caso específico da localização em ambientes interiores, pretende-se que através de dados recolhidos por um conjunto de sensores sem fios, seja possível detectar com relativa precisão um objecto móvel devidamente identificado. Este tipo de sistemas permitem por exemplo, monitorizar um paciente de risco num hospital, dando informação precisa do seu paradeiro no momento da ocorrência de algum incidente. Outra possível aplicação será, por exemplo, dentro de uma empresa ou instituição, recolher informação precisa sobre o paradeiro de cada trabalhador, visitante ou produto. Isto permite melhorar a logística a gestão dos recursos. As soluções comuns de localização não endereçam devidamente a problemática de acesso ao meio para a realização de transmissões. Isto tem impacto na eficiência de utilização do canal de comunicações e resulta num número inferior de localizações por unidade de tempo. Estes sistemas revelam assim a necessidade de um protocolo de acesso ao meio específico que permita reduzir o tempo necessário à localização de cada dispositivo móvel permitindo a integração de um número mais elevado dispositivos móveis ou fixos numa rede de localização. Esta tese explora a utilização de Zigbee para implementar um protocolo master/multi-slave (FTT-L) aplicado a um sistema de localização. Este protocolo bem como a sua implementação é descrita neste documento. São também conduzidos vários testes para determinar alguns parâmetros chave. Os resultados são utilizados para derivar o tempo mínimo de localização que é validado experimentalmente. ABSTRACT: In the last decade the proliferation of wireless communication networks has reached unprecedented values, and their features empowered the application of wireless networks to the most varied contexts. In the specific case of indoor location, the target is to detect with relative precision an identified mobile object with the data collected from a wireless sensor network. This system allows us to monitor a risk patient in an hospital, giving the precise information about its location at the moment of a possible accident. Other possible application is, for example, to gather inside a company or institution the precise location of every worker, visitor or product. This can improve the logistics and the management of the personnel. The common location solutions do not address the problematic of medium access for transmitting messages. This has impact on the transmission channel occupation and indirectly lowers the system efficiency, which results on a smaller number of locations per unit of time. These systems reveal the necessity of a specific protocol for accessing the medium to reduce the necessary time to locate each mobile device, allowing the integration of a larger number of mobile devices or fixed devices in a location network. This thesis explores the use of ZigBee to implement a master/multi-slave protocol (FTT-L) supporting a localization system. This protocol as well as its implementation are described throughout the thesis and an assessment of several key parameters is conducted. Results are used to derive the delay of a localization round, which was validated experimentally

Design and implementation of an opportunistic network based on IEEE 802.15.4

Les xarxes de sensors sense fils constitueixen un dels principals àmbits on s'han focalitzat els esforços dels entorns acadèmics i de la indústria. Les xarxes de sensors sense fils possibiliten un ampli ventall d'aplicacions de control i monitorització, que permeten l'automatització de tasques i donen pas a nous paradigmes, com l'anomenada "intel·ligència ambiental", o "La Internet de les coses". Un dels escenaris d'interès dins de les xarxes de sensors, i també en altres tipus de xarxes, és el de les xarxes formades per dispositius que es mouen i que realitzen algun tipus de trajectòria repetitiva. Un exemple és el dels autobusos municipals, que segueixen una ruta preestablerta. Es pot aprofitar el fet que l'autobús passa tard o d'hora per tota la ruta, per recollir i transportar dades dels punts pels quals ha passat. En aquest tipus d'escenaris, es pot fer servir un encaminament anomenat oportunístic, que es basa en aprofitar la connectivitat entre els nodes en aquells moments en dos o més nodes són prou a prop. Aquest projecte proposa el disseny i implementació en dispositius reals IEEE 802.15.4 d'un sistema de xarxa oportunística per a la recollida de dades ambientals

The optical sensor mote, a novel device for enabling next generation Wireless Sensor Networks

Recent advances in micro-electronics and communications have fuelled research in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). WSNs are a collection of low power, low cost, small form factor devices referred to as sensor motes interconnected in a random manner to establish a network. Despite wide ranging research into a range of applications, significant limitations stand in the way of utilizing WSNs to monitor large scale/area environments. Optical sensing techniques are well suited for monitoring a large variety of environmental variables such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and gas concentrations. However, traditional optical sensing techniques rely on bulky solutions including spectroscopic equipment and fibre based approaches. On the other hand, photonic crystals have caused a revolution in integrated optics as they allow functionalities not possible before; however little has been reported on their use as integrated optical sensors. The research work combines the diverse but related fields of WSNs, integrated optics, and Photonic Crystals. A novel platform, the optical sensor mote, is proposed and its key building blocks are experimentally demonstrated as a feasibility study. Specifically, multi-gas sensors based on the slow light phenomenon in photonic crystal waveguides are theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. These sensors can sense multiple gases without the need of any physical changes. They can also be integrated with electronics to yield an optical sensor mote of small form factor which is stable, multi-functional, and cost-effective. The optical sensor mote represents a significant step towards enabling the wide spread use of WSNs to monitor large scale/area environments and providing a highly integrated mote platform amenable to mass production and providing multi-functions.Recent advances in micro-electronics and communications have fuelled research in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). WSNs are a collection of low power, low cost, small form factor devices referred to as sensor motes interconnected in a random manner to establish a network. Despite wide ranging research into a range of applications, significant limitations stand in the way of utilizing WSNs to monitor large scale/area environments. Optical sensing techniques are well suited for monitoring a large variety of environmental variables such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and gas concentrations. However, traditional optical sensing techniques rely on bulky solutions including spectroscopic equipment and fibre based approaches. On the other hand, photonic crystals have caused a revolution in integrated optics as they allow functionalities not possible before; however little has been reported on their use as integrated optical sensors. The research work combines the diverse but related fields of WSNs, integrated optics, and Photonic Crystals. A novel platform, the optical sensor mote, is proposed and its key building blocks are experimentally demonstrated as a feasibility study. Specifically, multi-gas sensors based on the slow light phenomenon in photonic crystal waveguides are theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. These sensors can sense multiple gases without the need of any physical changes. They can also be integrated with electronics to yield an optical sensor mote of small form factor which is stable, multi-functional, and cost-effective. The optical sensor mote represents a significant step towards enabling the wide spread use of WSNs to monitor large scale/area environments and providing a highly integrated mote platform amenable to mass production and providing multi-functions

An architecture framework for enhanced wireless sensor network security

This thesis develops an architectural framework to enhance the security of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and provides the implementation proof through different security countermeasures, which can be used to establish secure WSNs, in a distributed and self-healing manner. Wireless Sensors are used to monitor and control environmental properties such as sound, acceleration, vibration, air pollutants, and temperature. Due to their limited resources in computation capability, memory and energy, their security schemes are susceptible to many kinds of security vulnerabilities. This thesis investigated all possible network attacks on WSNs and at the time of writing, 19 different types of attacks were identified, all of which are discussed including exposures to the attacks, and the impact of those attacks. The author then utilises this work to examine the ZigBee series, which are the new generation of wireless sensor network products with built-in layered security achieved by secure messaging using symmetric cryptography. However, the author was able to uniquely identify several security weaknesses in ZigBee by examining its protocol and launching the possible attacks. It was found that ZigBee is vulnerable to the following attacks, namely: eavesdropping, replay attack, physical tampering and Denial of Services (DoS). The author then provides solutions to improve the ZigBee security through its security schema, including an end-to-end WSN security framework, architecture design and sensor configuration, that can withstand all types of attacks on the WSN and mitigate ZigBee’s WSN security vulnerabilities

On a Joint Physical Layer and Medium Access Control Sublayer Design for Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks and Applications

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are distributed networks comprising small sensing devices equipped with a processor, memory, power source, and often with the capability for short range wireless communication. These networks are used in various applications, and have created interest in WSN research and commercial uses, including industrial, scientific, household, military, medical and environmental domains. These initiatives have also been stimulated by the finalisation of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, which defines the medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPAN). Future applications may require large WSNs consisting of huge numbers of inexpensive wireless sensor nodes with limited resources (energy, bandwidth), operating in harsh environmental conditions. WSNs must perform reliably despite novel resource constraints including limited bandwidth, channel errors, and nodes that have limited operating energy. Improving resource utilisation and quality-of-service (QoS), in terms of reliable connectivity and energy efficiency, are major challenges in WSNs. Hence, the development of new WSN applications with severe resource constraints will require innovative solutions to overcome the above issues as well as improving the robustness of network components, and developing sustainable and cost effective implementation models. The main purpose of this research is to investigate methods for improving the performance of WSNs to maintain reliable network connectivity, scalability and energy efficiency. The study focuses on the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC/PHY layers and the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) based networks. First, transmission power control (TPC) is investigated in multi and single-hop WSNs using typical hardware platform parameters via simulation and numerical analysis. A novel approach to testing TPC at the physical layer is developed, and results show that contrary to what has been reported from previous studies, in multi-hop networks TPC does not save energy. Next, the network initialization/self-configuration phase is addressed through investigation of the 802.15.4 MAC beacon interval setting and the number of associating nodes, in terms of association delay with the coordinator. The results raise doubt whether that the association energy consumption will outweigh the benefit of duty cycle power management for larger beacon intervals as the number of associating nodes increases. The third main contribution of this thesis is a new cross layer (PHY-MAC) design to improve network energy efficiency, reliability and scalability by minimising packet collisions due to hidden nodes. This is undertaken in response to findings in this thesis on the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC performance in the presence of hidden nodes. Specifically, simulation results show that it is the random backoff exponent that is of paramount importance for resolving collisions and not the number of times the channel is sensed before transmitting. However, the random backoff is ineffective in the presence of hidden nodes. The proposed design uses a new algorithm to increase the sensing coverage area, and therefore greatly reduces the chance of packet collisions due to hidden nodes. Moreover, the design uses a new dynamic transmission power control (TPC) to further reduce energy consumption and interference. The above proposed changes can smoothly coexist with the legacy 802.15.4 CSMA/CA. Finally, an improved two dimensional discrete time Markov chain model is proposed to capture the performance of the slotted 802.15.4 CSMA/CA. This model rectifies minor issues apparent in previous studies. The relationship derived for the successful transmission probability, throughput and average energy consumption, will provide better performance predictions. It will also offer greater insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the MAC operation, and possible enhancement opportunities. Overall, the work presented in this thesis provides several significant insights into WSN performance improvements with both existing protocols and newly designed protocols. Finally, some of the numerous challenges for future research are described

Low-Power Pıc-Based Sensor Node Devıce Desıgn And Theoretıcal Analysıs Of Energy Consumptıon In Wıreless Sensor Networks

Teknolojinin ilerlemesi, daha enerji verimli ve daha ucuz elektronik bileşenlerinin daha küçük üretilmesini sağlamıştır. Bu nedenle, daha önce mevcut birçok bilgisayar ve elektronik bilim-mühendislik fikirleri uygulanabilir hale gelmiştir. Bunlardan birisi de kablosuz sensör ağları teknolojisidir. Kablosuz algılayıcı ağlar, düşük enerji tüketimi ve gerekli teknik gereksinimlerin gerçekleşmesi ile uygulanabilir hale gelmiştir. Ayrıca, Kablosuz algılayıcı ağlarının tasarımında iletişim algoritmaları, enerji tasarruf protokolleri ve yenilenebilir enerji teknolojileri gibi diğer bilimsel çalışmalar zorunlu hale gelmiştir. Bu tez, mikroelektronik sistemler, kablosuz iletişim ve dijital elektronik teknolojisinin ilerlemesiyle uygulanabilir hale gelmiş sensör ağları teknolojisini kapsamaktadır. Birincisi, algılama görevleri ve potansiyel algılayıcı ağ uygulamaları araştırılmış ve algılayıcı ağlarının tasarımını etkileyen faktörlerin gözden geçirilmesi sağlanmıştır. Ardından sensör ağları için iletişim mimarisi ana hatlarıyla belirtilmiştir. Ayrıca, tek bir düğümün WLAN ile iletişim kurabilmesi için yeni donanım mimarisi tasarlanmış ve düğümlerde yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları kullanılmıştır. Bu tezde WSN, analitik bilim ve uygulamalı bilim açısından incelenmiştir. Düşük enerji tüketimi ve iletişim protokolleri arasındaki ilişki değerlendirilmiş ve bilimsel sonuçlara varılmıştır. Teorik analizler bilimsel uygulamalarla desteklenmiştir. Çalışmalar, düşük enerji ve maksimum verimlilik prensibinin gerçekleştirilmesine dayalı kablosuz sensör ağları üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kablosuz sensör ağlari sistemi tasarlandıktan sonra; sensör düğümlerinin enerji tüketimi ve kablosuz ağdaki davranışları test ve analiz edilmiştir. Düşük enerji tüketimi ile sensör düğümleri arasındaki ilişki detaylı olarak değerlendirilmiştir. PIC Tabanlı mikro denetleyiciler sensör düğümlerinin tasarımında kullanılmış ve çok düşük maliyetli tasarım için ultra düşük güçte, nanoWatt teknolojisi ile desteklenen sensör düğümleri tasarlanmıştır. İşleme birimi, bellek birimi ve kablosuz iletişim birimi sensör viii düğümlerine entegre edilmiştir. Tasarlanan sensör düğümünün işletim sistemi PIC C dili ile yazılmıştır ve PIC işletim sistemi nem, sıcaklık, ışığa duyarlılık ve duman sensörü gibi farklı özelliklerin ölçülmesine izin vermiştir. Sensörlerden gelen verilerin merkezi bir konumdan kaydedilmesi ve izlenebilmesi için, C# programlama dili ile bilgisayar yazılımı geliştirilmiştir. Gelişmiş algılayıcı düğümler tarafından alınan kararların uygulanması için yazılım algoritması ve donanım modüllerini içeren karar verme sistemi tasarlanmıştır. Gelişmiş PIC Tabanlı sensör düğümleri, enerji üretimi ve enerji tasarrufu için, güneş enerjisi paneli, şarj edilebilir pil ve süper kapasitör gibi yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları ile benzersiz bir PIC Kontrollü voltaj birimi ile desteklenmiştir. Geliştirilmiş kablosuz sensör ağları sistemi, endüstri uygulamaları, akıllı fabrikalar ve akıllı evler gibi günlük hayat uygulamaları için de kullanılabilecektir. Kablosuz algılayıcı ağlar geniş bir aralıkta kullanılmak üzere tasarlanmıştır. Tezin sonuçları, özellikle yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları ile WSN'nin geliştirilmesine yardımcı olmayı amaçlamaktadır