Unit1: Sensor Networks

Lecture Notes on Sensor Networks-

Introduction and Architectures
for
Open Education Resource
on
Introduction to Wireless Sensor Networks(ECH403B-T)
by
Dr. Piyush Charan
Associate Professor
Department of Electronics and Communication Engg.
Manav Rachna University, Faridabad
 Contents
➢ Wireless Sensor Networks
➢ WSN application with examples
➢ Challenges for Wireless Sensor Networks
➢ Enabling Technologies for WSNs
➢ Single-Node Architecture
➢ Hardware Components
➢ Energy Consumption of SNs
➢ Network Architectures
➢ Network Scenarios
➢ Transceiver Design Considerations
➢ Optimization Goals
➢ Figures of Merit

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 2

 Wireless Sensor Networks

• Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are networks

of small, low-cost sensor nodes that are
equipped with one or more sensors, a
microcontroller, and a wireless communication
module.
• These nodes work together to collect and
transmit data about the environment, such as
temperature, humidity, light, and motion.
• WSNs can be used in a wide range of
applications, including environmental
monitoring, industrial automation, home
automation, and healthcare.

Fig.1. Architecture for WSNs

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 3
 Wireless Sensor Network

Mobile User

Internet Gateway

Remote User Fig.2. Typical Wireless Sensor Network Scenario Relay Node
Sensor Node
10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 4
 VANETs Scenario

Fig.3. Typical VANETs Scenario

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 5
 Wireless Mesh Network

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 6

• WSNs are characterized by their ability to collect and transmit data
wirelessly, their small size and low power consumption, and their ability to
operate in remote or hard-to-reach locations. They typically consist of a
large number of sensor nodes that are distributed over a wide area and
communicate with each other to form a network. The sensor nodes are
connected to a base station or gateway that acts as a bridge between the
WSN and a larger network, such as the Internet.
• WSNs are typically deployed in a distributed manner, with each sensor
node operating independently and communicating with its neighboring
nodes. The sensor nodes use a variety of low-power communication
protocols, such as Zigbee and Z-Wave, to communicate with each other.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 7

 Application of WSNs
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have a wide range of applications, including:

1. Environmental monitoring: WSNs can be used to monitor various environmental factors, such as
temperature, humidity, air quality, and soil moisture. This information can be used to predict and prevent
natural disasters, such as wildfires, as well as to improve crop yields and water management.
2. Industrial automation: WSNs can be used to monitor and control industrial processes, such as manufacturing
and assembly lines. This can help to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and increase productivity.
3. Home automation: WSNs can be used to control and monitor various devices in a home, such as lights,
appliances, and heating and cooling systems. This can help to improve energy efficiency and make the home
more comfortable to live in.
4. Healthcare: WSNs can be used to monitor patients' vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood
oxygen levels. This can help to detect and prevent health issues, such as heart attacks and strokes, and to
improve patient outcomes.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 8

 Applications of WSNs contd

1. Military and defense: WSNs can be used in military and defense applications,
such as battlefield surveillance, target tracking, and monitoring of critical
infrastructure.
2. Agriculture: WSNs can be used to monitor various environmental factors, such as
temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, in agricultural fields. This information
can be used to improve crop yields and water management.
3. Transportation: WSNs can be used in transportation applications, such as traffic
monitoring, fleet management, and monitoring of critical infrastructure.
4. Disaster management: WSNs can be used to gather information during natural or
man-made disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and chemical spills. This
information can be used to predict and prevent disasters, as well as to respond to
them more effectively.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 9

 Challenges for Wireless Sensor
Networks
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) face a number of challenges, including:
1. Limited energy resources: Sensor nodes in WSNs typically have limited energy
resources, such as batteries, which can quickly run out. This makes it important to
design energy-efficient protocols and algorithms for WSNs.
2. Limited communication range: Sensor nodes in WSNs typically have limited
communication range, which can make it difficult to maintain connectivity between
all nodes in the network.
3. Limited processing and storage capabilities: Sensor nodes in WSNs typically have
limited processing and storage capabilities, which can make it difficult to perform
complex computation and data storage tasks.
4. Security: WSNs are vulnerable to a variety of security threats, such as denial-of-
service attacks and unauthorized access to sensor data.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 10

5. Scalability: WSNs are often required to support large numbers of sensor
nodes, which can make it difficult to design scalable protocols and
algorithms.
6. Interference: Wireless sensor networks operate in unlicensed radio
frequency bands, which are often subject to interference from other
wireless devices.
7. Deployment and maintenance: Wireless sensor networks are often
deployed in remote or hard-to-reach areas, which can make it difficult to
deploy and maintain the network.
8. Quality of Service(QoS): Wireless sensor networks need to support
various Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, such as low latency, high
reliability, and high throughput, which can be challenging to achieve.
10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 11
 Let us Summarise
• Unique constraints and challenges in WSNs:
1. Limited Hardware
– Limited onboard storage/memory
– Limited processing capabilities
– Limited bandwidth
– Short communication range
– Limited range
2. Limited support for networking
– Peer-to peer networking (connected to each other via TCP/IP protocols
and files are shared directly.
– Unreliable communication
– Dynamically changing (changing position constantly)
3. Limited support for software development
– Real time tasks that involve dynamic collaboration
– Software Architecture must be co-designed with the information
processing architecture

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 12

 Enabling Technologies for WSNs
The key enabling technologies for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) include:
1. Low-power communication: WSNs rely on low-power communication protocols,
such as Zigbee and Z-Wave, which allow sensor nodes to communicate with each
other using minimal power.
2. Low-power microprocessors: WSNs rely on low-power microprocessors, such as
the MSP430 and the Atmel AVR, which allow sensor nodes to perform computation
and data processing tasks using minimal power.
3. Low-power radio transceivers: WSNs rely on low-power radio transceivers, such as
the CC2420 and the CC1101, which allow sensor nodes to communicate with each
other wirelessly using minimal power.
4. Routing and MAC protocols: WSNs rely on routing and medium access control
(MAC) protocols, such as the routing protocol for low-energy and lossy networks
(RPL) and the low-power wireless personal area network (LoWPAN) protocol, which
allow sensor nodes to communicate with each other effectively and efficiently.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 13

5. Sensors and actuators: WSNs rely on a wide variety of sensors and
actuators, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and light sensors,
which allow sensor nodes to collect data about the environment.
6. Data fusion and compression: WSNs rely on data fusion and compression
techniques, such as Kalman filtering, to reduce the amount of data
transmitted and to improve the accuracy of the data.
7. Security: WSNs rely on various security technologies, such as encryption
and secure key management, to protect sensor data from unauthorized
access and tampering.
8. Time Synchronization: WSNs rely on time synchronization technique
such as GPS time synchronization, to synchronize the clocks of different
sensor nodes, which is important for correct data fusion, routing and
security.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 14

 Key Enablers
Networked
Embedded
Systems
Collaborate
sensing, take
Devices
actions necessary
control systems

Sensing

Tightly coupled
to the physical
world

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 15

 Single Node Architecture
• Controller A controller to process all the relevant
data, capable of executing arbitrary code.
• Memory Some memory to store programs and
intermediate data; usually, different types of
memory are used for programs and data.
• Sensors and actuators The actual interface to the
physical world: devices that can observe or
control physical parameters of the environment.
• Communication Turning nodes into a network
requires a device for sending and receiving
information over a wireless channel.
• Power supply As usually no tethered power
supply is available, some form of batteries are
necessary to provide energy. Sometimes, some
form of recharging by obtaining energy from the
environment is available as well (e.g. solar cells).

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 16

 Energy Consumption in SNs
Sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) typically operate in three main energy consumption modes:
active mode, sleep mode, and idle mode.
1. Active mode: In active mode, the sensor node is fully operational and performing tasks such as data
collection, data processing, and data transmission. This mode consumes the most energy and is
typically used when the sensor node needs to take measurements or send data to the base station or
other nodes in the network.
2. Sleep mode: In sleep mode, the sensor node reduces its power consumption by shutting down non-
essential components, such as the radio transceiver and the microprocessor. This mode consumes less
energy than active mode and is typically used when the sensor node is not taking measurements or
sending data.
3. Idle mode: In idle mode, the sensor node is not performing any tasks and is in a low-power state,
waiting for an event to occur or a command to be received. This mode consumes the least energy and
is typically used when the sensor node is not needed to perform any tasks.
The energy consumption of a sensor node in a WSN is a critical factor that determines the lifetime of the
network. To maximize the lifetime of a WSN, sensor nodes should be designed to consume as little energy as
possible and to spend as much time as possible in sleep mode or idle mode.
Additionally, energy harvesting is another way to minimize the energy consumption in wireless sensor nodes.
This way, energy can be collected from the environment (e.g. solar, kinetic, thermal) to power the sensor node,
reducing the dependence on batteries.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 17

 Network Scenarios in WSNs
In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), there are several network scenarios that can be considered,
including:
1. Star topology: In this scenario, all sensor nodes communicate directly with a central hub or
base station. This is the simplest and most common topology used in WSNs, as it allows for
easy management and data collection.
2. Cluster-based topology: In this scenario, sensor nodes are organized into clusters, with
each cluster having a leader node that acts as a relay for the other nodes in the cluster. This
topology is more efficient than the star topology in terms of energy consumption and
scalability, as it reduces the number of messages that need to be transmitted to the base
station.
3. Hierarchical topology: In this scenario, sensor nodes are organized into a hierarchy, with
each level of the hierarchy having different roles and responsibilities. This topology is more
complex than the star and cluster-based topologies, but is more efficient in terms of energy
consumption and scalability, as it reduces the number of messages that need to be
transmitted to the base station.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 18

 Network Scenarios in WSNs

4. Mobile topology: In this scenario, sensor nodes are equipped with mobility
capabilities, such as wheels or legs, and are able to move around the environment.
This topology is more complex than the other topologies, but allows for more flexible
deployment and data collection.
5. Hybrid topology: In this scenario, sensor nodes are connected to multiple networks,
such as cellular and wireless, which allows for more flexibility and robustness in
terms of data collection and communication.
The network topology of a WSN will depend on the specific application, environment, and
constraints of the deployment. Star topology is the most common and suitable for monitoring
the environment while hybrid topology is more suitable for monitoring a large area and
mobile topology is suitable for monitoring the dynamic environment.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 19

 The Transceiver Design Considerations
The transceiver, or transceiver module, is a crucial component of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) as it
is responsible for both transmitting and receiving data. The design considerations for the transceiver in
WSNs include:
1. Power Consumption: This is one of the most important considerations for the transceiver, as sensor
nodes are typically powered by batteries and need to conserve energy to maximize the lifetime of the
network. The transceiver should be designed to consume minimal power during both transmission
and reception.
2. Data Rate: This is the rate at which data is transmitted and received by the transceiver and is
typically measured in bits per second. The transceiver should be designed to support the data rate
required by the application, while also taking into account the power consumption and the distance
between sensor nodes.
3. Range: This is the maximum distance between sensor nodes that the transceiver can support. The
transceiver should be designed to support the range required by the application, while also taking into
account the data rate and power consumption.
4. Modulation: This is the technique used to encode data on a carrier signal. The transceiver should be
designed to support the modulation scheme required by the application, while also taking into
account the data rate, range, and power consumption.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 20

 The Transceiver Design Considerations
5. Frequency band: This is the range of frequencies used by the transceiver to
transmit and receive data. The transceiver should be designed to operate in the
frequency band required by the application, while also taking into account the
regulations and interference from other devices.
6. Antenna: The transceiver should be designed to work with an appropriate
antenna, which should be chosen based on the range, frequency band, and
transmission power.
7. Security: The transceiver should be designed to protect against unauthorized
access and should include features such as encryption, authentication, and secure
key management.
8. Hardware size and cost: The transceiver should be designed to fit into the
physical constraints of the sensor node, while also being cost-effective.
All of these design considerations must be carefully balanced to achieve the best
performance and cost-effectiveness for the WSN. The specific design considerations
will depend on the specific application and environment of the WSN.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 21

 Optimization Goals and Figures of Merit

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have several optimization goals and figures of merit,
which are used to evaluate the performance of a WSN. These include:
1. Energy efficiency: This is one of the most important optimization goals for WSNs, as
sensor nodes are typically powered by batteries and need to conserve energy to
maximize the lifetime of the network. Energy efficiency is usually measured in terms of
the energy consumed per bit of data transmitted or the number of sensor nodes that can
be supported by a given amount of energy.
2. Coverage: This is the area that is monitored by the WSN and is typically measured in
terms of the percentage of the area that is covered by at least one sensor node.
3. Connectivity: This is the ability of sensor nodes to communicate with each other and
with the base station and is typically measured in terms of the number of connected
nodes or the probability of successful communication.
4. Scalability: This is the ability of a WSN to expand or shrink in size as needed and is
typically measured in terms of the number of sensor nodes that can be added or removed
without affecting the performance of the network.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 22

5. Reliability: This is the ability of a WSN to continue to operate in the face of failures
and is typically measured in terms of the probability that a message will be successfully
delivered or the number of sensor nodes that can fail without affecting the performance
of the network.
6. Latency: This is the time it takes for a message to be delivered from one sensor node to
another and is typically measured in terms of the round-trip time.
7. Throughput: This is the amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time period
and is typically measured in terms of bits per second or packets per second.
8. Security: This is the ability of a WSN to protect against unauthorized access and is
typically measured in terms of the level of encryption used or the probability of
successful attacks.
These optimization goals and figures of merit are interrelated and need to be balanced to
achieve the best performance of the WSN. The specific optimization goals and figures of merit
will depend on the specific application of the WSN.

10 January 2023 Dr. Piyush Charan, Dept. of ECE, MRU, Faridabad 23

Dr. Piyush Charan
Associate Professor,
Department of ECE,
Manav Rachna University, Faridabad
Email: [email protected], [email protected]