New Wireless Sensors Networks: The Art of Integration

Integrating Computers, Communication, Sensing, and Microelectronics technologies in an orchestrated systems have opened new frontiers in our life; in entertainment, business, handling disasters and emergencies, health care, warfare, etc. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) reflects such integration, it is a prototype of these new systems. WSNs are based on collaborative efforts of a large number of sensor nodes. They should be low-cost, low-power, and multifunction. These nodes have the capabilities of sensing, data processing, and communicating. High performance sensor node is another example of integration of various technologies; CMOS, MEMS, synchronous, asynchronous, static, dynamic,..etc, on the same chip. Wireless Sensor Networks have a wide range of applications; from monitoring sensors in industrial facilities for controlling and management energy applications to military and security fields. Because of the special features of these networks, new network technologies are needed that focused on low power, reliable communication, and low cost. The new network protocols and architectures should take into consideration the special features of WSNs such as: the large number of nodes, their failure rate, limited power, high density,.. etc. In this talk the impact of wireless sensor networks is addressed, examples of the design, communication, and technological issues are given. A case study of an SoC sensor node processor, designed at our lab., is demonstrated.