Abstract
A hybrid methodology is proposed for use in low power, safety critical wireless sensor network applications, where quality-of-service orientated transceiver output power control is required to operate in parallel with radio frequency-based localization. The practical implementation is framed in an experimental procedure designed to track a moving agent in a realistic indoor environment. An adaptive time synchronized approach is employed to ensure the positioning technique can operate effectively in the presence of dataloss and where the transmitter output power of the mobile agent is varying due to power control. A deterministic multilateration-based positioning approach is adopted and accuracy is improved by filtering signal strength measurements overtime to account for multipath fading. The location estimate is arrived at by employing least-squares estimation. Power control is implemented at two separate levels in the network topology. First, power control is applied to the uplink between the tracking reference nodes and the centralized access point. A number of algorithms are implemented highlighting the advantage associated with using additional feedback bandwidth, where available, and also the need for effective time delay compensation. The second layer of power control is implemented on the uplink between the mobile agent and the access point and here quantifiable improvements in quality of service and energy efficiency are observed. The hybrid paradigm is extensively tested experimentally on a fully compliant 802.15.4 testbed, where mobility is considered in the problem formulation using a team of fully autonomous robots.
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Tyndall is a part of the CLARITY CSET supported by Science Foundation Ireland (No. 07/CE/I1147).
Michael J. WALSH received a first class honors B.E. degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Limerick in 2005. He subsequently applied for and was awarded a Ph.D. scholarship sponsored by the Embark Initiative’s Postgraduate Research Scheme under the Irish Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). He completed his PhD, entitled “An AntiWindup Approach to Reliable Communication and Resource Management in Wireless Sensor Networks”, as a member of the Wireless Access Research Centre in the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Limerick in 2009. Following completion of his Ph.D., Michael joined the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, where he is currently a post-doctoral researcher funded by the Clarity Centre for Sensor Web Technologies. His research interests are presently centred on the development of wearable body area networks and more specifically the design and practical evaluation of new miniaturized heterogeneous wearable technologies. He is also concerned with protocol development for wireless body area networks, where his goal is to apply systems science and optimization techniques in the wireless ambient healthcare environment.
Anthony FEE received a first class B.E. degree from the Electronic and Computer Engineering Deparment in the University of Limerick in 2005. He is currently a Ph.D. canditate in the Wireless Access Research Group, University of Limerick. His primary research interests include intelligent vehicle systems, robotics and sensor fusion.
John BARTON received his M.S degree from University College Cork in 2006. He joined the Interconnection and Packaging Group of the National Microelectronics Research Centre (now Tyndall National Institute) as a research engineer in 1993. Currently in the Wireless Sensor Networks team where his recent research interests include ambient systems research, wearable computing and deployment of wireless sensor networks for personalized health applications. As PI on the Enterprise Ireland funded D-Systems project John has been the leader of the development of the Tyndall Wireless Sensor Mote platform. He has authored or co-authored over 90 peer reviewed papers.
Brendan O’FLYNN received his B.E. degree from University College Cork in 1993, and his M.S. degree from University College Cork, National Microelectronics Research Centre in 1995. Brendan is a senior staff researcher at the Tyndall national Institute and is Research Activity Leader for the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Group. As such he has been responsible for directing the research activities of the group in a variety of industry funded, nationally funded and European projects. He has been involved in the development of the AES Intern Program, and conducting research into miniaturized wireless sensor systems as well as the supervision activities associated with postgraduate students PhD and Masters Level. His research interests include low power microelectronic design, RF system design system integration of miniaturized sensing systems and embedded system design on resource constrained platforms. Brendan was one of the founders of Inpact Microelectronics Ireland Ltd. and has significant expertise in the commercialization of technology. Inpact (a spin off from the National Microelectronics Research Centre (NMRC)) miniaturized in the development of system in a package (SiP) solutions for customers. Inpact offered a complete solution to customers enabling the development of a product concept through to volume product supply; miniaturizing in radio frequency (RF) system development and product miniaturization.
Martin J. HAYES has lectured at the University of Limerick since 1997, is currently course leader for the B.S. in Electronics programme, and is a researcher in theWireless Access Research Centre. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in electrical science, automatic control, computer controlled systems and the control of nonlinear systems. His research interests lie in the area of systems theory in general and in particular on the intelligent use of system resources within biomedical or safety critical wireless systems that are subjected to channel and/or performance uncertainties. He is also interested in how the dynamic delivery of information to handheld devices at tourist attractions can add value to the visitor experience.
Cian O’MATHUNA is head of Tyndall National Institutes Microsystems Centre. His research interests include microelectronics integration for ambient electronic systems, biomedical microsystems, and energy processing for information and communications technologies. He received his Ph.D. in Microelectronics from University College Cork. He is a member of the IEEE.
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Walsh, M.J., Fee, A., Barton, J. et al. On localization with robust power control for safety critical wireless sensor networks. J. Control Theory Appl. 9, 83–92 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11768-011-0253-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11768-011-0253-6