Smart Autonomous Sensors & Enviornments

Sensor networks are used for gathering, processing and delivering information about the desired targets or the physical environments surrounding them. A mobile sensor network is typically comprised of devices equipped with battery-powered wireless sensors capable of motion through the environment. Each device in a mobile sensor network usually has limited mobility and data processing capability. Limitations on the physical resources of each individual node (i.e. energy consumption, bandwidth and mobility) make optimization of the network performance a critical condition in the ability of the network to complete its function. In addition to these limits, the lack of centralized control and dynamic and unpredictable nature of the environment contribute to challenges in the performance optimization and evaluation of such networks. NIST is conducting research to examine the optimal deployment of sensor devices (with controlled mobility) and the relevant possible trade-offs between coverage (i.e. connectivity) and information sensing. Mobile patient positioning and tracking in hospitals is an example of a practical application of this research.