Article | REF: H8500 V1

Sensor networks

Author: Khaldoun AL AGHA

Publication date: October 10, 2010, Review date: March 1, 2015

You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!

Already subscribed? Log in!


Overview

Français

ABSTRACT

Sensor networks exist in an increasing number of applications. They are for instance present in devices that enable the military to help and rescue teams in a hostile environment, in systems of environmental protection, or even at home ... There exist multiple and varied domains of use. In order to use these sensor networks in the best way, it is necessary to understand their functioning, i.e. the organization of communications that allow for the dynamic elaboration of a community capable of delivering information to various collectors. This article presents these technologies, from design to communication protocols.

Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.

Read the article

AUTHOR

  • Khaldoun AL AGHA: Supelec engineer, PhD, HDR - Professor at the University of Paris-Sud XI

 INTRODUCTION

In the industrial world, a sensor is a device that translates a physical quantity into an electrical quantity, which, once digitized, can be stored, processed and transmitted for use with other information. This enables global operations to be carried out, such as avoiding a disaster, anticipating a problem or optimizing a complex operation.

Before the telecommunications revolution and the development of wireless technologies, the information gathered by a sensor was routed via a costly, cumbersome cabling system, requiring relatively high levels of human effort. The range of uses for sensors remained very limited. To justify the deployment of a sensor network, there had to be a major security issue at stake, or the prospect of significant economic benefits.

Today's new-generation sensors are equipped with "radio" circuits enabling them to transmit and receive information. What's more, they have the memory capacity and computing power to route packets of information. In this way, sensor networks can be formed. They can be self-configuring, self-discovering and relay measured information to their destination. As a result, a large number of applications have been developed to take advantage of this new sensor environment.

You do not have access to this resource.

Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!

You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!

Already subscribed? Log in!


The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference

A Comprehensive Knowledge Base, with over 1,200 authors and 100 scientific advisors
+ More than 10,000 articles and 1,000 how-to sheets, over 800 new or updated articles every year
From design to prototyping, right through to industrialization, the reference for securing the development of your industrial projects

This article is included in

Industry of the future

This offer includes:

Knowledge Base

Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees

Services

A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources

Practical Path

Operational and didactic, to guarantee the acquisition of transversal skills

Doc & Quiz

Interactive articles with quizzes, for constructive reading

Subscribe now!

Ongoing reading
Sensor networks