SWISNET - Scalable Wireless Sensor networks

The main objective of the project is to investigate how to develop a hierarchical, scalable, and dynamically reprogrammable Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), and evaluate the developed solutions through simulation studies and experiments with real WSNs running the developed technology concepts. This project will devise new and integrated networking and middleware solutions to meet the goals discussed below, where the development will be done in a simulator environment and as part of a middleware prototype, and furthermore in a real demonstrator setup based on standard WSN protocols. The project aims to build-up an infrastructure for research in hierarchical dual-radio WSNs both in terms of a simulator and hardware. As part of the architecture is a data acquisition and management gateway between the sensor network and external networks, that provides interaction, control and management functionality for authenticated users. Research in reusable middleware components for hierarchical sensor networks will open up for simpler (reduced) development and maintenance (costs) of next generation sensor networks. The prototype will be based on standard WSN protocols, such as ZigBee and IEEE 802.15.4, in contrast to previous efforts on sensor networks. Our envisioned architecture is general and enables numerous applications. In order to achieve the main goal of the project, the following sub-goals have been identified: To establish a simulator environment for the proposed hierararchical WSNs architecture in order to have a software framework for implementing and assessing the networking solutions to be devised. To develop novel solutions for energy-efficient networking in hierarchical WSNs to support multicast including node addressing schemes and reliable delivery. Reliability in WSNs may have a different meaning than in conventional (wired) networking and must be seen in the context energy efficency. To develop component based middleware solutions for supporting high level (re)programmability of hierarchical WSNs. To build a real prototype (based on third-party HW components) to demonstrate the developed WSN networking and middleware solutions in the project.