2,282 research outputs found
Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks
In this chapter, we present a literature survey of an emerging, cutting-edge,
and multi-disciplinary field of research at the intersection of Robotics and
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) which we refer to as Robotic Wireless Sensor
Networks (RWSN). We define a RWSN as an autonomous networked multi-robot system
that aims to achieve certain sensing goals while meeting and maintaining
certain communication performance requirements, through cooperative control,
learning and adaptation. While both of the component areas, i.e., Robotics and
WSN, are very well-known and well-explored, there exist a whole set of new
opportunities and research directions at the intersection of these two fields
which are relatively or even completely unexplored. One such example would be
the use of a set of robotic routers to set up a temporary communication path
between a sender and a receiver that uses the controlled mobility to the
advantage of packet routing. We find that there exist only a limited number of
articles to be directly categorized as RWSN related works whereas there exist a
range of articles in the robotics and the WSN literature that are also relevant
to this new field of research. To connect the dots, we first identify the core
problems and research trends related to RWSN such as connectivity,
localization, routing, and robust flow of information. Next, we classify the
existing research on RWSN as well as the relevant state-of-the-arts from
robotics and WSN community according to the problems and trends identified in
the first step. Lastly, we analyze what is missing in the existing literature,
and identify topics that require more research attention in the future
Markov Decision Processes with Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) consist of autonomous and resource-limited
devices. The devices cooperate to monitor one or more physical phenomena within
an area of interest. WSNs operate as stochastic systems because of randomness
in the monitored environments. For long service time and low maintenance cost,
WSNs require adaptive and robust methods to address data exchange, topology
formulation, resource and power optimization, sensing coverage and object
detection, and security challenges. In these problems, sensor nodes are to make
optimized decisions from a set of accessible strategies to achieve design
goals. This survey reviews numerous applications of the Markov decision process
(MDP) framework, a powerful decision-making tool to develop adaptive algorithms
and protocols for WSNs. Furthermore, various solution methods are discussed and
compared to serve as a guide for using MDPs in WSNs
A reliable design of Wireless Body Area Networks
International audienceIn this paper, we propose a reliable topology design and provisioning approach for Wireless Body Area Networks (named RTDP-WBAN) that takes into account the mobility of the patient while guaranteeing a reliable data delivery required to support healthcare applications' needs. To do so, we first propose a 3D coordinate system able to calculate the coordinates of relay-sensor nodes in different body postures and movements. This system uses a 3D-model of a standard human body and a specific set of node positions with stable communication links, forming a virtual backbone. Next, we investigate the optimal relay nodes positioning jointly with the reliable and cost-effective data routing for different body postures and movements. Therefore, we use an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model, that is able to find the optimal number and locations of relay nodes and calculate the optimal data routing from sensors and relays towards the sink, minimizing both the network setup cost and the energy consumption. We solve the model in dynamic WBAN (Stand, Sit and Walk) scenarios, and compare its performance to other relaying approaches. Experiment results showed that our realistic and dynamic WBAN design approach significantly improves results obtained in the literature, in terms of reliability, energy-consumption and number of relays deployed on the body
Applications and case studies in oil refineries
The widespread adoption of wireless systems for industrial automation calls for the development of efficient tools for virtual planning of network deployments similarly as done for conventional Fieldbus and wired systems. In industrial sites the radio signal propagation is subject to blockage due to highly dense metallic structures. Network planning should therefore account for the number and the density of the 3D obstructions surrounding each link. In this paper we address the problem of wireless node deployment in wireless industrial networks, with special focus on WirelessHART IEC 62591 and ISA SP100 IEC 62734 standards. The goal is to optimize the network connectivity and develop an effective tool that can work in complex industrial sites characterized by severe obstructions. The proposed node deployment approach is validated through a case study in an oil refinery environment. It includes an ad-hoc simulation environment (RFSim tool) that implements the proposed network planning approach using 2D models of the plant, providing connectivity information based on user-defined deployment configurations. Simulation results obtained using the proposed simulation environment were validated by on-site measurements
Coverage Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks: Review and Future Directions
The coverage problem in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can be generally
defined as a measure of how effectively a network field is monitored by its
sensor nodes. This problem has attracted a lot of interest over the years and
as a result, many coverage protocols were proposed. In this survey, we first
propose a taxonomy for classifying coverage protocols in WSNs. Then, we
classify the coverage protocols into three categories (i.e. coverage aware
deployment protocols, sleep scheduling protocols for flat networks, and
cluster-based sleep scheduling protocols) based on the network stage where the
coverage is optimized. For each category, relevant protocols are thoroughly
reviewed and classified based on the adopted coverage techniques. Finally, we
discuss open issues (and recommend future directions to resolve them)
associated with the design of realistic coverage protocols. Issues such as
realistic sensing models, realistic energy consumption models, realistic
connectivity models and sensor localization are covered
A review of relay network on UAVS for enhanced connectivity
One of the best evolution in technology breakthroughs is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This aerial system is able to perform the mission in an agile environment and can reach the hard areas to perform the tasks autonomously. UAVs can be used in post-disaster situations to estimate damages, to monitor and to respond to the victims. The Ground Control Station can also provide emergency messages and ad-hoc communication to the Mobile Users of the disaster-stricken community using this network. A wireless network can also extend its communication range using UAV as a relay. Major requirements from such networks are robustness, scalability, energy efficiency and reliability. In general, UAVs are easy to deploy, have Line of Sight options and are flexible in nature. However, their 3D mobility, energy constraints, and deployment environment introduce many challenges. This paper provides a discussion of basic UAV based multi-hop relay network architecture and analyses their benefits, applications, and tradeoffs. Key design considerations and challenges are investigated finding fundamental issues and potential research directions to exploit them. Finally, analytical tools and frameworks for performance optimizations are presented
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