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Sensor Network Platforms and Tools: References

This document provides an overview of sensor node components and operating systems. A typical sensor node consists of a controller, communication device, sensors/actuators, storage, and power supply. Common controllers include microcontrollers and DSPs. Radio transceivers are popular communication devices that operate at radio frequencies using modulation like ASK or FSK. Sensors can be passive and omnidirectional or active. Storage is usually small, ranging from a few kilobytes to megabytes. Operating systems for sensor nodes include TinyOS, Contiki, and MANTIS. The goal is to maximize power efficiency by throttling components between active, idle, and sleep modes.

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54 views9 pages

Sensor Network Platforms and Tools: References

This document provides an overview of sensor node components and operating systems. A typical sensor node consists of a controller, communication device, sensors/actuators, storage, and power supply. Common controllers include microcontrollers and DSPs. Radio transceivers are popular communication devices that operate at radio frequencies using modulation like ASK or FSK. Sensors can be passive and omnidirectional or active. Storage is usually small, ranging from a few kilobytes to megabytes. Operating systems for sensor nodes include TinyOS, Contiki, and MANTIS. The goal is to maximize power efficiency by throttling components between active, idle, and sleep modes.

Uploaded by

kingravi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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10/6/2008

Sensor Network Platforms and Tools


1 AN OVERVIEW OF SENSOR NODES AND THEIR COMPONENTS

References
2

Sensor Node Architecture

10/6/2008

Main components of a sensor node


4

A controller Communication device(s) Sensor(s)/actuator(s) Storage g Power supply


Communication device

Storage Sensor(s)/ actuator(s)

Controller

Power supply

Controller
5

Options:
Microcontrollergeneral purpose processor, optimized for embedded applications, low power consumption DSPsoptimized for signal processing tasks, not suitable here FPGAsmay be good for testing ASICsonly when peak performance is needed, no flexibility

Example microcontrollers
Texas Instruments MSP430
16-bit RISC core, up to 4 MHz, versions with 2-10 Kbytes RAM, several DACs, RT clock, cheap (prices start at US$ 0.49)

Atmel ATMega
8-bit controller, larger memory than MSP430, slower

Communication device
6

Which transmission medium?


Electromagnetic at radio frequencies Electromagnetic, light Ultrasound

Radio t R di transceivers t i transmit a bit or a b t t it bitbyte-stream as radio waves


Or, receive it and convert it back into bit-/byte-stream

10/6/2008

Transceiver characteristics
7

Tasks and capabilities


Service to upper layer
Usually to MAC layer; packet-oriented; byte- or bit-interface to the microcontroller

Carrier frequency and multiple channels q y p


Regulatory restrictions; FDMA, multi-channel CSMA

Data rates
Carrier frequency and the bandwidth together with modulation and coding determines the gross rate

Range
In the absence of interference!

Transceiver characteristics2
8

Energy
Power consumption
During transmission During state change

Transmission power control

Transceiver characteristics3
9

Radio
Modulation? (ASK, FSK, ) Noise figure?
NF = SNRI/SNRO; degradation due to the operation of the element in dB

Gain? G i ?
Ratio of the output signal power to the input signal power in dB

Power efficiency?
Ratio of the output signals power to the power consumed by the amplifier

Receiver sensitivity?
Minimum S to achieve a given Eb/N0; a prescribed bit/packet error rate

10/6/2008

Transceiver characteristics4
10

Radio (cont.)
Blocking performance
Achieved BER in presence of frequency-offset interferer

Out of band emissions


Limiting the disturbance

Carrier sensing and RSSI characteristics Frequency stability (e.g., towards temperature changes) Voltage range

Transceiver structure
11

Radio frequency front end


Analog signal processing

Base band processor


Digital signal processing and communication with the processor and other (digital) circuitry

Transceiver states
12

Transmit Receive Idleready to receive, but not doing so


Some functions can be switched off, reducing energy consumption a little

Sleepsignificant parts of the transceiver are switched off


Need some time to wake up receive something; recovery time and startup energy to leave sleep state can be significant

10/6/2008

Example transceivers
13

RFM TR1000 family


916 or 868 MHz 400 kHz bandwidth Up to 115,2 kbps On/off keying or ASK Dynamic/tuneable output power Maximum power about 1.4 mW Low power consumption

Chipcon CC 2400
Implements 802.15.4 2.4 GHz, DSSS modem 250 kbps Higher power consumption than above transceivers

Infineon TDA 525x family


E.g., 5250: 868 MHz ASK or FSK modulation RSSI, highly efficient power amplifier Intelligent power down, selfpolling mechanism Excellent blocking performance

Chipcon CC1000
Range 300 to 1000 MHz, programmable in 250 Hz steps FSK modulation Provides RSSI

Wakeup receivers
14

Research issue: Wakeup receivers


Can be woken via radio when in sleep state (seems a contradiction!)

Major energy problem: RECEIVING


Idling and being ready to receive consumes considerable amounts of power

When to switch on a receiver is not clear


Contention-based MAC protocols: Receiver is always on TDMA-based MAC protocols: Synchronization overhead, inflexible

Wakeup receivers2
15

Desirable: Receiver that can (only) check for incoming messages


When signal detected, wake up main receiver for actual reception Ideally: Wakeup receiver can already process simple addresses Not clear whether they can be actually built, however

10/6/2008

Sensors
16

Main categories
Any energy radiated?
Passive vs. active sensors

Sense of direction?
Omidirectional?

Passive, omnidirectional
Example: light, thermometer, microphones, hygrometer,

Passive, narrow-beam
Example: Camera

Active
Example: Radar

Sensors2
17

Important parameter: Area of coverage


Which region is adequately covered by a given sensor?

Actuators
18

As diverse as sensors Usually paired with a controlling sensor In principle have a simple functionality with when paired with a sensoropen or close a switch or a relay or set a value

10/6/2008

Storage
19

Sensors usually accompanied with a small storage:


4-16kB RAM (EEPROM) 16-128kB program flash 256-2048kB external flash (NAND, NOR)

Examples:
tMote sky k
10kb RAM 48kB program flash 1024kb external flash

micaZ
4kb EEPROM 128kB program flash 512kB external flash

Power supply
20

Goal: provide as much energy as possible at smallest cost/volume/weight/recharge time/longevity


In WSN, recharging may or may not be an option

Options
Primary batteriesnot rechargeable Secondary batteriesrechargeable, only makes sense in combination with some form of energy harvesting

Requirements include
Low self-discharge Long shelf live Capacity under load Efficient recharging at low current Good relaxation properties (seeming self-recharging) Voltage stability (to avoid DC-DC conversion)

Power consumption
21

Way out: Do not run sensor node at full operation all the time
If nothing to do, switch to power safe mode Question: When to throttle down? How to wake up again?

Typical modes yp o
Controller: Active, idle, sleep Radio mode: Turn on/off transmitter/receiver, both

Multiple modes possible, deeper sleep modes


Strongly depends on hardware
TI MSP 430; four different sleep modes Atmel ATMega; six different modes (idle, ADC Noise Reduction, Power-save, Power-down, Standby, Extended Standby)

10/6/2008

Switching between modes


22

Simplest idea: Greedily switch to lower mode whenever possible Problem: Time and power consumption required to reach higher modes not negligible
Introduces overhead d h d Switching only pays off if Esaved > Eoverhead
Esaved Pactive Psleep t1 down tevent up time Eoverhead

Sensor Node Examples

23

Current sensor nodes


24

Mica2 micaZ Cricket Imote2 Tmote sunSpot Sentilla JCreate

10/6/2008

Operating System and Execution Environments

25

Operating Systems
26

TinyOS
Mate

MANTIS RetOS Contiki MagnetOS Eyes OS SenOS Emeralds PicOS

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