Wireless sensor network

A wireless sensor network (WSN) (sometimes called a wireless sensor and actuator network (WSAN)) are spatially distributed autonomous sensors to monitor physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound, pressure, etc. and to cooperatively pass their data through the network to a main location. The more modern networks are bi-directional, also enabling control of sensor activity. The development of wireless sensor networks was motivated by military applications such as battlefield surveillance; today such networks are used in many industrial and consumer applications, such as industrial process monitoring and control, machine health monitoring, and so on.

The WSN is built of "nodes" – from a few to several hundreds or even thousands, where each node is connected to one (or sometimes several) sensors. Each such sensor network node has typically several parts: a radio transceiver with an internal antenna or connection to an external antenna, a microcontroller, an electronic circuit for interfacing with the sensors and an energy source, usually a battery or an embedded form of energy harvesting. A sensor node might vary in size from that of a shoebox down to the size of a grain of dust, although functioning "motes" of genuine microscopic dimensions have yet to be created. The cost of sensor nodes is similarly variable, ranging from a few to hundreds of dollars, depending on the complexity of the individual sensor nodes. Size and cost constraints on sensor nodes result in corresponding constraints on resources such as energy, memory, computational speed and communications bandwidth. The topology of the WSNs can vary from a simple star network to an advanced multi-hop wireless mesh network. The propagation technique between the hops of the network can be routing or flooding.

WSN (disambiguation)

WSN may refer to:

  • Wireless sensor network, spatially distributed autonomous sensors that monitor physical or environmental conditions and pass their data through the network to a main location
  • Wirth syntax notation, a metasyntax, or formal way to describe formal languages
  • Washington Square News, the daily student newspaper of New York University
  • White sponge nevus, an autosomal dominant skin condition
  • WSN Environmental Solutions, an Australian waste disposal company
  • South Naknek Airport, Alaska (IATA airport code)
  • Podcasts:

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    Latest News for: wsn

    Editorial: NYU is failing to protect the safety of its applicants

    Washington Square News 11 Apr 2025
    The ambiguous message did not clarify what about the graphs or information the hacker presented was inaccurate despite a WSN investigation that confirmed over 100 consenting applicants’ leaked information.

    Editorial: NYU must protect its international community’s right to free speech

    Washington Square News 03 Apr 2025
    NYU prides itself as a global institution ... WSN’s Opinion section strives to publish ideas worth discussing. Opinions expressed in the house editorial reflect the views of WSN’s Editorial Board. Contact the Editorial Board at opinion@nyunews.com ... .
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