Wireless Sensor Networks

SENSORS

Sensors are sophisticated devices that are frequently used to detect and
respond to electrical or optical signals.
A Sensor converts the physical parameter (for example: temperature,
blood pressure, humidity, speed, etc.) into a signal which can be
measured electrically.
 TYPES OF SENSORS
✔Active sensor

▪need an external power supply(like battery) to work.

▪Active sensors can create their own electromagnetic energy.
▪provide their own energy source for illumination.
▪An active sensor is transducer generates electric current or
voltage directly in response to environmental stimulation.
Example:
When you take a picture with the flash turned on, the camera sends its own source of
light. After it illuminates the target, the camera captures the reflected light back to the
camera lens.
So, cameras are active sensors when the photographer uses flash. It illuminates its target
and measures the reflected energy back to the camera.
Blood pressure sensor, temperature sensor, ultrasonic sensors etc. Like
ultrasonic sensors power is needed to generate and transmit the ultra sound
waves.
✔Passive sensor

▪ use its own energy to work.

▪ The passive sensor detects the naturally emitted microwave
energy within its field of view.
▪ Passive sensors can obtain measurement only in the day time.

Example :
Cameras are passive sensors when the photographer does not use the
flash. Because the camera is not sending the source of light, it uses
naturally emitted light from the sun.
PIR Like an infrared camera or PIR sensor uses external heat energy to
capture images.
TYPES OF SENSORS
✔ Analog Sensors produce an analog signal based on what they sense. Ex:
Analog Temperature sensor, Light Sensor, Sound Sensor etc.
✔ Digital Sensors are those which produce a digital signal in response to
what they measure at the input. Ex: Led Sensor, Digital Temperature
sensor.
SENSOR NETWORKS
A sensor network comprises a group of tiny, typically
battery-powered devices and wireless infrastructure that monitor
and record conditions in any number of environments.

The sensor network connects to the Internet, an

enterprise WAN or LAN, or a specialized industrial network so
that collected data can be transmitted to back-end systems for
analysis and used in applications.
Sensing Unit :
It is usually composed of two subunits: sensors and Analog-to-Digital convertors
(ADC’s).
Analog signals produced by sensors based on observed phenomenon are converted to
digital signals by ADC, and then fed into processing unit.

Processing Unit :
The core of the wireless sensor node is the processing unit, usually a microprocessor
with a limited amount of memory. The processing unit is connected to the sensors via
one or more Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs).
Power Unit:
The power unit and the power generator are a key element in the sensor structure.
The power unit is responsible to provide the electrical power needed by the other
units in the system.
Location finding system:
Specific nodes may integrate a location finding system that helps the node to
discover its position, relative to its neighbors or global. This unit is often embedded
on the transceiver module and requires the use of specific algorithms by the
processing unit, depending on the adopted localization techniques
Transceiver:
transmitter-receiver, a device that both transmits and receives analog or
digital signals. RF (Radio Frequency) Technology, satellite, wired
connections/optical fiber etc.
Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is an infrastructure-less wireless network that
is deployed in a large number of wireless sensors in an ad-hoc manner that is
used to monitor the system, physical or environmental conditions.
WSN consist of several SENSOR NODES deployed at an area of concern.
These sensor nodes are capable of sensing essential parameters such as
temperature, pressure, humidity in the environment, soil quality, luminosity and
various other essential data. Along with sensing the parameters these sensor
nodes can also communicate with other sensor nodes thus forming a network.
Sensor nodes which are specially designed in such a typical way that they have
a microcontroller which controls the monitoring, a radio transceiver for generating
radio waves, different type of wireless communicating devices and also equipped
with an energy source such as battery.
WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
▪The most common WSN architecture follows the OSI architecture Model. It’s called Layered
architecture.
▪The architecture of the WSN includes five layers(application, transport, network, data link &
physical layer) and three cross layers (power management, mobility management, and task
management).
Application Layer
It provides necessary interfaces to the user to interact with the physical world through the
WSN. This layer makes hardware and software of the lowest layer transparent to the
end-user.
Transport Layer
The transport layer helps to maintain the flow of data if the sensor networks
application requires it. There are some popular protocols in the transport layer namely
STCP (Sensor Transmission Control Protocol), PORT (Price-Oriented Reliable Transport
Protocol and PSFQ (pump slow fetch quick). The transport layer is exactly needed when a
system is planned to contact other networks.
Network Layer
The main function of the network layer is routing data supplied by the transport layer,
specific multi-hop wireless routing protocols between sensor nodes and sink.
The most popular routing protocol is LEACH (The Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering
Hierarchy).This divides the network into clusters and randomly selects the cluster head for
it to do the routing job from cluster to the sink after carrying out data aggregation.
 Data Link Layer
The data link layer is liable for multiplexing data frame detection, data streams,
MAC, & error control, confirm the reliability of point–point (or) point– multipoint.
Physical Layer
Can provide an interface to transmit a stream of bits over physical medium.
Responsible for frequency selection, carrier frequency generation, signal detection,
Modulation and data encryption. IEEE 802.15.4: proposed as standard for low rate
personal area and WSN with low: cost, complexity, power consumption, range of
communication to maximize battery life.

The three cross layers are mainly used for controlling the network as well as to make
the sensors function as one in order to enhance the overall network efficiency.
The power, mobility, and task management planes monitor the power,
movement, and task distribution among the sensor nodes. These planes help
the sensor nodes coordinate the sensing task and lower the overall energy
consumption.
CLASSIFICATION OF WSNS
Terrestrial WSNs
Military application

Underground WSNs
Monitor underground
condition
Underwater WSNs
Water quality monitoring

Multi-media WSNs
Public security application

Mobile WSNs
Mobile application
TERRESTRIAL WSN
* It consists of numerous tiny sensor nodes that communicates with the base station .
* The sensor nodes are dropped over a region where some phenomenon is to be
monitored. It can be :
* structured(pre-planned) or unstructured(ad hoc)

* The energy conservation of terrestrial WSNs is achieved by using multi-hop optimal routing ,
short transmission range, eliminating data redundancy, in-network data aggregation, minimizing
delay etc.

* Challenges : the battery power is limited which is equipped with secondary power cells as
solar cells.
* Example : Enemy tracking, surveillances, geo-fencing of gas or oil pipelines etc.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Additional Notes:

Night vision vs Infrared cameras

1.Night vision detects visible light while infrared detects radiated heat
2. Night vision needs a little amount of light while infrared doesn’t
3. Infrared is better for camouflaged targets than night vision
4. Night vision can be counteracted by bright light while infracted can counteracted by cooling

▪For more :
https://reductionrevolution.com.au/blogs/news-reviews/thermal-camera-infrared-scanner-uses
UNDERGROUND WSNS
*The underground WSNs networks consist of a number of sensor nodes that are hidden in the ground to
monitor underground conditions.

* To relay information from the sensor nodes to the base station(act as a gateway to forward data from
the WSN on to a server.), additional sink nodes(acts as a gateway or interface between the sensor
node and the base station) are located above the ground.

* The underground wireless sensor networks that equipped with a limited battery power are difficult to
recharge. Additionally, the underground environment makes wireless communication a challenge due
to high level of attenuation and signal loss.

* The underground wireless sensor networks are more expensive than the terrestrial WSNs in terms of
deployment, maintenance, and equipment cost considerations and careful planning.
 APPLICATION
❑It monitors soil water and mineral content for irrigation.
❑Monitoring soli movement for earthquake(by seismometer), landslides(by fibre-optic sensors,
accelerometer etc.)prediction.
❑Monitoring soil conditions for sports field maintenance etc.
UNDERWATER WSNS
* More than 70% of the earth is occupied with water. These networks consist of a number of
sensor nodes and vehicles deployed under water. Autonomous underwater vehicles are used
for gathering data from these sensor nodes. A challenge of underwater communication is a
long propagation delay, and bandwidth and sensor failures.
* Under water WSNs are equipped with a limited battery that cannot be recharged or
replaced. The issue of energy conservation for under water WSNs involves the development
of underwater communication and networking techniques.
 APPLICATION
❑Seismic Monitoring for oil extraction from underwater fields.
❑Finding submarine links.
❑Finding lost sink urban communities.
MULTI-MEDIA WSNS
* is a network of wirelessly interconnected sensor nodes equipped with multimedia devices,
such as cameras and microphones, and capable to retrieve video and audio streams, still images,
as well as scalar sensor data.
*These nodes are interconnected with each other over a wireless connection for data
compression, data retrieval and correlation.
* The challenges with the multimedia WSN include high energy consumption, high bandwidth
requirements, data processing and compressing techniques. In addition to this, multimedia
contents require high bandwidth for the contents to be delivered properly and easily.
* Example : indoor/outdoor surveillance systems, traffic monitoring and control systems for
urban and sub-urban areas, systems supporting telemedicine, attendance to disable and elderly
people, environment monitoring, localization and recognition of services and users, monitoring
and control of manufacturing processes in industry
MOBILE WSNS
* A wireless sensor network (WSN) in which the sensor nodes are mobile.
*Commonly, the nodes consist of a radio transceiver and a microcontroller powered by
a battery, as well as some kind of sensor for detecting light, heat, humidity, temperature, etc.
* The mobile wireless sensor networks are much more versatile than the static sensor networks.
The advantages of MWSN over the static wireless sensor networks include better and improved
coverage, better energy efficiency, superior channel capacity, and so on .
* Applications for mobile WSN are environment monitoring, target tracking, search and rescue
and real-time monitoring of hazardous
LIMITATIONS OF WIRELESS
SENSOR NETWORKS
Possess very little storage capacity – a few hundred kilobytes
Possess modest processing power-8MHz
Works in short communication range – consumes a lot of power
Requires minimal energy – constrains protocols
Have batteries with a finite life time
Passive devices provide little energy
Cloud Computing
In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over
the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive. The cloud is just a metaphor for the
Internet.

Cloud computing is the delivery of different services through the Internet, including data
storage, servers, databases, networking, and software.

Cloud-based storage makes it possible to save files to a remote database and retrieve them on
demand.
 Cloud Provider

offer facilities

Facilities
SaaS+PaaS+I
aaS

request response request response request response

Cloud User 3
Cloud User 1
Cloud User 2 Desktop
Mobile Phone
Laptop
Common Cloud Examples
Cloud computing for storage :
Microsoft OneDrive,
Google Drive etc.
Web-based/Cloud apps :
Office Online,
Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides
Gmail,
Google Calendar,
Google Maps and so on.
Types of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is not a single piece of technology like a microchip or a cellphone.
Rather, it's a system primarily comprised of three services:
Software-as-a-service(SaaS).
Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS).
Platform-as-a-service (PaaS).
Software-as-a-service(SaaS):
SaaS platforms make software available to end users over the internet, usually for a
pay-as-you-go or on-demand subscription fee.
With SaaS, you don’t need to install and run software applications on your computer (or
any computer).
Everything is available over the internet when you log in to your account online.
You can usually access the software from any device, anytime (as long as there is an
internet connection).
The most popular SaaS applications for business are Google’s G Suite and Microsoft’s
Office etc.
Platform-as-a-service (PaaS)
A service provider offers access to a cloud-based environment in which users(developers)
can build and deliver applications.
In addition to storage and other computing resources, users are able to use a suite of
prebuilt tools to develop, customize and test their own applications.
PaaS shares some similarities with SaaS, the primary difference being that instead of
delivering software online, it is actually a platform for creating software that is delivered
via the Internet. This model includes platforms like Force.com, Google App Engine etc.
Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) :
A vendor provides clients(system admin) pay-as-you-go access to storage, networking,
servers and other computing resources in the cloud.
Clients can avoid the need to purchase software or servers.
Popular examples of the IaaS system include IBM Cloud and Microsoft Azure.
 Server Storage Network OS DB App Server Config App Application
Server

IaaS

Infrastructure OS DB App Server Config App Application

20% time savings
Server

PaaS

80% time savings Infrastructure Platform Application

SaaS

95% time savings Infrastructure Platform Software

Big Data
Collection of data whose volume, velocity or variety is too large and
difficult to store, manage, process and analyze the data using
traditional databases.
• It involves data cleansing, processing and visualization.
• Lots of data is being collected and warehoused
>Web data, e-commerce
>Bank/Credit Card transactions
>Social Network
Volume
amount of data. Suppose, More than 250 billion photos have been uploaded to
Facebook.
Velocity
With big data, velocity refers to how quickly data is coming in. Using the
Facebook example from earlier, whilst the social media giant stores 250 billion
images, approximately 900 million photos are uploaded by its users each and
every day. This amount of data has to be processed, filed and retrieved.
Variety
The third sector of big data is variety, it means that the data can be very different
from one application to another, much of it being unstructured data too.
A clear example of variety in big data are emails. Messages are never identical to
another, as each has its own destination, time stamp, possible attachments and
different text. Emails, like audio recordings, videos and photos are all data that
tends to be very varied and unstructured too.