Special Issue: "Wireless Sensor Technologies and Applications" - Sensors Journal

Guest Editor
Dr. Feng Xia
Faculty of Information Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
Tel: +61-7-3138 2277
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Deadline for Paper submission: 31 March 2009

Summary

Recent years have witnessed tremendous advances in wirelessly networked and embedded sensors. Wireless sensor nodes are typically low-cost, low-power, small devices equipped with limited sensing, data processing and wireless communication capabilities, as well as power supply. With the continuation of Moore’s law, they are becoming smaller, cheaper, while more powerful and more pervasive. The proliferation of these products opens up unprecedented opportunities for a wide variety of scientific, industrial, agricultural, commercial and military applications, such as health care, smart transportation, emergency response, home automation, social studies, critical infrastructure protection, and target tracking, just to mention a few. In particular, wireless sensors are a key enabling technology for the emerging cyber-physical systems, which will ultimately improve the quality of life. To realize the full potential of wireless sensors, enormous challenges need to be addressed and significant efforts have been made in this field.

This special issue aims to gather latest research and development achievements in wireless sensors and to promote their applications in real world. Original and unpublished papers that address the most current issues and challenges are solicited in all aspects of wireless sensors, including, but not limited to, theoretical studies, methods, technologies, prototypes, and practical applications.

Keywords
Wireless Sensor/Actuator Network, Sensor Web, Sensor Network, Sensor Design, Cyber-Physical System, Smart Space, Pervasive Computing.

Submitted Papers

Title: TinyONet: A Cache-Based Sensor Network Bridge Enabling Sensing Data Reusability and Customized Wireless Sensor Network Services
Author: Eui-Hyun Jung 1 and Yong-Jin Park 2,*
1 Department of Computer Science, Anyang University / Samseong-ri, Buleun-myeon, Ganghwagun, Inchon, 417-833, Korea; E-Mail: [email protected]
2 Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University / Haengdang-dong, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Korea
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.:+82-2-2220-0355, Fax:+82-2-2220-4788
Received: 9 September 2008 / Accepted: / Published:
Abstract:
In recent years, a few protocol bridge research projects have been announced to enable a seamless integration of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) with the TCP/IP network. These studies have ensured the transparent end-to-end communication between two network sides in a node-centric manner. Researchers expect this integration will trigger the development of various application domains. However, prior research has not fully explored some essential features for WSNs, especially the reusability of sensing data and the data-centric communication. To resolve these issues, we suggested a new protocol bridge system named TinyONet. In TinyONet, virtual sensors play roles as virtual counterparts of physical sensors and they dynamically group to make a functional entity, Slice. Instead of direct interaction with individual physical sensors, each sensor application uses its own WSN service provided by Slices. If a new kind of service is required in TinyONet, the corresponding function can be dynamically added without system stop. Beside the data-centric communication, it also supports the node-centric communication and the synchronous access. In order to show the effectiveness of the system, we implemented TinyONet on an embedded Linux machine and evaluated it under several experimental scenarios.
Keywords: Wireless Sensor Networks; Protocol bridge; Data-centric communication; Virtual counterpart.

Title: A Distributed Energy-aware Routing Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Author: Mari Carmen Domingo
Technical University of Catalonia/Telematics Engineering Department, Barcelona, Spain; Email: [email protected]
Received: 17 September 2008 / Accepted: / Published:
Abstract:
The design of routing protocols for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) poses many challenges due to the intrinsic properties of underwater environments. In this paper we present DUCS (Distributed Underwater Clustering Scheme), a new GPS-free routing protocol that does not use flooding techniques, minimizes the proactive routing message exchange and uses data aggregation to eliminate redundant information. Besides, DUCS assumes random node mobility and compensates the high propagation delays of the underwater medium using a continually adjusted timing advance combined with guard time values to minimize data loss. The theoretical and simulation studies carried out demonstrate its effectiveness.
Keywords: acoustic communications, routing, energy efficiency, underwater networking

Planned Papers

Title: Opportunistic concurrent transmissions under shadowing channels
Authors: Shiwen Mao and In Keun Son
Dept. of Electrical and Computer, Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA, Seung Min Hur: USE Lab, Center for u-manufacturing, POSTECH, Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea Jeffrey H. Reed: Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Abstract: (tentative)
In this paper, we study the exposed terminal problem in multi-hop wireless networks with log-normal shadowing channels.  Assuming thatlocation information is known, we first calculate the success probability for the concurrent transmissions from exposed nodes.  We then propose a new MAC protocol which schedules concurrent transmissions in the presence of log-normal shadowing, thus mitigating the exposed terminal problem and increasing network throughput.  The performance of the proposed protocol is evaluated with ns-2 simulations, and it is shown to achieve considerable improvements in both end-to-end throughput and delay over the IEEE 802.11 MAC.

Title: Energy Options for Powering Wireless Sensor Nodes
Author: Sam Behrens
Project Leader, CSIRO | Energy Technology, PO Box 330, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia, 10 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Steel River Industrial Park, Mayfield West NSW 2304, Australia T +61 2 4960 6133 | F +61 2 4960 6111; [email protected] | www.csiro.au 
Abstract: Reduction in size and power consumption of consumer electronics has opened up many opportunities for low power wireless sensor networks. One of the major challenges is in supporting battery operated devices as the number of nodes in a network grows. The two main alternatives are to utilize higher energy density sources of energy, or to generate power at the node from local forms of energy. This paper reviews the state-of-the art technology in the field of both energy storage and energy harvesting. The options discussed for energy storage include batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, heat engines and betavoltaic systems. The field of energy harvesting is discussed with reference to photovoltaics, temperature gradients, fluid flow, pressure variations and vibration harvesting.

Title: Clustering Wireless Sensors
Authors: Fehmi Ben Abdesslem 1, Marcelo Dias de Amorim 1 and Artur Ziviani 2
1 UPMC Univ Paris 06, LIP6/CNRS, 104 avenue du President Kennedy, F-75016, Paris, France
2 LNCC, Av. Getulio Vargas 333, 25651-075 Petropolis, RJ, Brazil
Abstract: Partitioning large-scale sensor networks into small groups of nodes (clusters) stands as a convenient way to manage sensors and solve scalability issues. When a large number of nodes are randomly deployed, the design of appropriate clustering techniques has been the subject of many research works for more than two decades. Depending on the context, different criteria may be considered to drive cluster formation, such as the diameter and size of clusters, clusters stability, or energy consumption. In this paper, we review clustering algorithms for wireless sensor networks. We also classify existing solutions according to the considered context and the criteria used to evaluate each solution.

Title: Power Sources for Wireless Sensor Nodes Based on Piezoelectric and Magnetoelectric Thin/Thick Film Structures
Authors: Hyunuk Kim 1, Jungho Ryu 2, Chee-Sung Park 1, Jong-Jin Choi 2, Dong-Soo Park 2 and Shashank Priya 1
1 CEHMS, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
2 Functional Ceramics Research Group, Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), Changwon, Gyeongnam 641-831, Korea
Abstract: In this manuscript, we review the progress made in synthesis of thin/thick films based piezoelectric and magnetoelectric structures for harvesting energy from mechanical vibrations and magnetic field. The manuscript also discusses the success in integrating energy harvesters with wireless sensor nodes. Piezoelectric compositions in the system Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 – Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZNT) have shown promise for providing enhanced efficiency due to higher energy density and thus form the base of transducers designed for capturing the mechanical energy. Laminate structures of PZNT with magnetostrictive ferrite materials provide large magnitudes of magnetoelectric constant and are being targeted to capture the stray magnetic field energy. We analyze the models used to predict the performance of the energy harvesters and present a full system description that incorporates the conditioning circuit, storage media, and sensor node.

Title: Indoor Positioning Systems and applications for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Jaime Lloret, Fernando Boronat, Jesus Tomas and Miguel Garcia
Department of Communications, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Camino Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia (Spain). Phone: +34 609549043, Fax: +34 962849313. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Currently, Indoor Positioning Systems are used in many application areas, specially using wireless sensor networks. While the need of these systems is widely proved, there is a clear lack of accuracy. Many implemented applications have too high error in their location estimation. In this paper, we propose two methods and show their real implementation for locating wireless sensors. Then, the main existing systems and the most known applications developed for Indoor Positioning Systems will be described in detail. Drawbacks and benefits for each one are also shown. Finally, the paper also compares the main existing deployments with both applications developed by the authors to demonstrate that one of our proposals obtains the best results.

Tentative Title: Dynamic Cluster-Based Sleep Scheduling for Wireless Ad-Hoc Sensor Networks
Authors: Chih-Yu Wen and Ying-Chih Chen
Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan R.O.C.; Tel: +886-4-22851549 ext.811, Fax: +886-4-22851410; Email: [email protected]
Abstract:
This paper presents two adaptive power management schemes for wireless sensor networks, which manage the sensors by utilizing the hierarchical network structure and allocate network resources efficiently. A local criteria is used to simultaneously undertake the sensing coverage and connectivity such that dynamic cluster-based sleep scheduling can be achieved. The proposed schemes are simulated and analyzed to abstract the network behaviors in a number of settings. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithms provide efficient network power control and achieve high scalability in wireless sensor networks.

Title: Wireless Sensor Technologies and Applications in agriculture and food industry – State of the art and actual trends
Author: Luis Ruiz-Garcia
LPF-TAG (Physical Properties and Advanced Techniques in Agrofood), ETSI Agr�nomos, Edificio de Motores y M�quinas, Universidad Polit�cnica de Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, SPAIN, Tel: +34 913 365 862, www.lpftag.upm.es
Abstract:
The aim of the present paper is to review the technical and scientific state of the art of wireless sensor technologies and standards for wireless communications in Agro-food sector. These technologies are very promising in several fields such as environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, cold chain control or traceability. The paper focus on WSN (Wireless Sensor Networks) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), presenting the different systems available, recent developments and examples of applications. Including ZigBee based WSN and RFID passive, semi-passive an active devices. Future trends of wireless communications in agriculture and food industry are also discussed.

Tentative Title: Large Scale Environmental Monitoring through Integration of Sensor and Mesh Networks
Author: Raja Jurdak, Abdelhamid Nafaa, and Alessio Barbirato
University College Dublin, Computer Science and Informatics A0.04, Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland Tel: +353-1-4971999, Mob:+353-85-7666905, E-mail: [email protected], web: www.jurdak.com, book: www.books.jurdak.com
Abstract: Monitoring outdoor environments through networks of wireless sensors has received interest for collecting physical and chemical samples at high spatial and temporal scales. A central challenge to environmental monitoring applications of sensor networks is the short communication range of the sensor nodes, which increases the complexity and cost of monitoring commodities that are located in geographically spread areas. To address this issue, we propose a new communication architecture that integrates sensor networks with medium range wireless mesh networks, and provides users with an advanced web portal for managing sensed information in an integrated manner. The architecture adopts a holistic approach targeted at improving the user experience by optimizing the system performance for handling data that originates at the sensors, traverses the mesh network, and resides at the server for user consumption. This holistic approach enables users to adapt the resolution of information collected at the sensors, set the preferred performance targets for their application, and run a wide range of queries and analysis on both real-time and historical data. All system components and processes will be described in this paper.

Title: Design and Deployment of Wireless Sensor Network for Monitoring Power Stations (Fossil) and Substations
Author: Asis Nasipuri
Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223-0001, Office: 222A Woodward Hall; Phone: 704-687-8418, Fax: 704-687-4762; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract:
to be added soon

Tentative Title: Ultra-wideband Sensors
Author: Robert Caiming Qiu
Center for Manufacturing Research, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Campus Box 5077, Tennessee Technological, University, Cookeville, TN 38505-0001 USA; Office: (931) 372-3847, Fax:    (931) 372-6345; E-Mail: [email protected]
Abstract: to be added soon

Tentative Title: Sensor systems for food processing and packaging
Author: N. Premchand Mahalik
Department of Industrial Technology, College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, California State University, Fresno 2255 East Barstow Avenue, M/S IT9 Fresno, California, CA 93740-8002 U.S.A.; Ph : +1 (559) 278-2995; Fax: +1 (559) 278-5081
Abstract: to be added soon

Tentative Title: Rapid Software Development for Embedded Systems Communications
Author: Mihail L. Sichitiu
Campus Box 7911, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Eng., North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7911
Abstract: to be added soon

Title: Autonomous Sensor Deployment: A Review
Author: Yuanzhu Peter Chen, Xingyan Jiang and Tina Yu
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X5, Canada, Phone: +1-709-737-6944; Fax:    +1-709-737-2009; Web:    http://www.cs.mun.ca/~yzchen/
Abstract: to be added soon

Submission

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Sensors Journal Special Issues

MDPI - Matthias Burkhalter - 18 September 2008