Power-aware distributed target detection in wireless sensor networks with UWB-radar nodes

Distributed detection of targets is one of the major applications of wireless sensor networks. Many existing results on distributed detection are either derived from analytical models or are based on simulations. In this paper, the performance of a distributed target detection system is evaluated by real measurement data obtained by UWB-radar-based sensor nodes. After local processing of the radar signal, the sensor nodes transmit their local decisions about the absence or presence of the target to a fusion center. For this purpose, a power-aware algorithm for resource allocation, which is tailored for UWB communication links is discussed. The feasibility and the effectiveness of this algorithm is evaluated by a hybrid approach based on the measurement data and simulations.