POSE: Prediction-Based Opportunistic Sensing for Energy Efficiency in Sensor Networks Using Distributed Supervisors

This paper presents a distributed supervisory control algorithm that enables opportunistic sensing for energy-efficient target tracking in a sensor network. The algorithm called Prediction-based Opportunistic Sensing (POSE), is a distributed node-level energy management approach for minimizing energy usage. Distributed sensor nodes in the POSE network self-adapt to target trajectories by enabling high power consuming devices when they predict that a target is arriving in their coverage area, while enabling low power consuming devices when the target is absent. Each node has a Probabilistic Finite State Automaton which acts as a supervisor to dynamically control its various sensing and communication devices based on target's predicted position. The POSE algorithm is validated by extensive Monte Carlo simulations and compared with random scheduling schemes. The results show that the POSE algorithm provides significant energy savings while also improving track estimation via fusion-driven state initialization.