Wireless Sensor Networks and their ApplicationsIn recent years an efficient design of a Wireless Sensor Network has become a leading area of research. A Sensor is a device that responds and detects some type of input from both the physical or environmental conditions, such as pressure, heat, light, etc. The output of the sensor is generally an electrical signal that is transmitted to a controller for further processing.Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)A Wireless sensor network can be defined as a network of devices that can communicate the information gathered from a monitored field through wireless links. The data is forwarded through multiple nodes, and with a gateway, the data is connected to other networks like wireless Ethernet. Wireless Sensor NetworksWSN is a wireless network that consists of base stations and numbers of nodes (wireless sensors). These networks are used to monitor physical or environmental conditions like sound, pressure, temperature, and co-operatively pass data through the network to the main location as shown in the figure.WSN Network TopologiesFor radio communication networks, the structure of a WSN includes various topologies like the ones given below.Wireless Sensor Network TopologiesStar TopologiesStar topology is a communication topology, where each node connects directly to a gateway. A single gateway can send or receive a message to several remote nodes. Instar topologies, the nodes are not permitted to send messages to each other. This allows low-latency communications between the remote node and the gateway (base station).Due to its dependency on a single node to manage the network, the gateway must be within the radio transmission range of all the individual nodes. The advantage includes the ability to keep the remote nodes’ power consumption to a minimum and simply under control. The size of the network depends on the number of connections made to the hub. Tree TopologiesTree topology is also called as a cascaded star topology. In tree topologies, each node connects to a node that is placed higher in the tree, and then to the gateway. The main advantage of the tree topology is that the expansion of a network can be easily possible, and also error detection becomes easy. The disadvantage with this network is that it relies heavily on the bus cable; if it breaks, all the network will collapse.Mesh TopologiesThe Mesh topologies allow transmission of data from one node to another, which is within its radio transmission range. If a node wants to send a message to another node, which is out of the radio communication range, it needs an intermediate node to forward the message to the desired node. The advantage of this mesh topology includes easy isolation and detection of faults in the network. The disadvantage is that the network is large and requires huge investment. Types of WSNs (Wireless Sensor Networks)Depending on the environment, the types of networks are decided so that those can be deployed underwater, underground, on land, and so on. Different types of WSNs include:Terrestrial WSNsUnderground WSNsUnderwater WSNsMultimedia WSNsMobile WSNs1. Terrestrial WSNsTerrestrial WSNs are capable of communicating base stations efficiently, and consist of hundreds to thousands of wireless sensor nodes deployed either in unstructured (ad hoc) or structured (Preplanned) manner. In an unstructured mode, the sensor nodes are randomly distributed within the target area that is dropped from a fixed plane. The preplanned or structured mode considers optimal placement, grid placement, and 2D, 3D placement models.In this WSN, the battery power is limited; however, the battery is equipped with solar cells as a secondary power source. The Energy conservation of these WSNs is achieved by using low duty cycle operations, minimizing delays, and optimal routing, and so on.2. Underground WSNsThe underground wireless sensor networks are more expensive than the terrestrial WSNs in terms of deployment, maintenance, and equipment cost considerations and careful planning. The WSNs networks consist of several sensor nodes that are hidden in the ground to monitor underground conditions. To relay information from the sensor nodes to the base station, additional sink nodes are located above the ground.Underground WSNsThe underground wireless sensor networks deployed into the ground are difficult to recharge. The sensor battery nodes equipped with a limited battery power are difficult to recharge. In addition to this, the underground environment makes wireless communication a challenge due to the high level of attenuation and signal loss.3. Under Water WSNsMore than 70% of the earth is occupied with water. These networks consist of several sensor nodes and vehicles deployed underwater. Autonomous underwater vehicles are used for gathering data from these sensor nodes. A challenge of underwater communication is a long propagation delay, and bandwidth and sensor failures.Under Water WSNsUnderwater, WSNs are equipped with a limited battery that cannot be recharged or replaced. The issue of energy conservation for underwater WSNs involves the development of underwater communication and networking techniques.4. Multimedia WSNsMultimedia wireless sensor networks have been proposed to enable tracking and monitoring of events in the form of multimedia, such as imaging, video, and audio. These networks consist of low-cost sensor nodes equipped with microphones and cameras. These nodes are interconnected with each other over a wireless connection for data compression, data retrieval, and correlation.Multimedia WSNsThe challenges with the multimedia WSN include high energy consumption, high bandwidth requirements, data processing, and compressing techniques. In addition to this, multimedia contents require high bandwidth for the contents to be delivered properly and easily.5. Mobile WSNsThese networks consist of a collection of sensor nodes that can be moved on their own and can be interacted with the physical environment. The mobile nodes can compute sense and communicate.The mobile wireless sensor networks are much more versatile than the static sensor networks. The advantages of MWSN over the static wireless sensor networks include better and improved coverage, better energy efficiency, superior channel capacity, and so on.Limitations of Wireless Sensor NetworksPossess very little storage capacity – a few hundred kilobytesPossess modest processing power-8MHzWorks in short communication range – consumes a lot of powerRequires minimal energy – constrains protocolsHave batteries with a finite lifetimePassive devices provide little energyWireless Sensor Networks ApplicationsWireless Sensor Networks ApplicationsThese networks are used in environmental trackings, such as forest detection, animal tracking, flood detection, forecasting and weather prediction, and also in commercial applications like seismic activity prediction and monitoring.Military applications, such as tracking and environment monitoring surveillance applications use these networks. The sensor nodes from sensor networks are dropped to the field of interest and are remotely controlled by a user. Enemy tracking, security detections are also performed by using these networks.Health applications, such as Tracking and monitoring of patients and doctors use these networks.The most frequently used wireless sensor networks applications in the field of Transport systems such as monitoring of traffic, dynamic routing management, and monitoring of parking lots, etc., use these networks.Rapid emergency response, industrial process monitoring, automated building climate control, ecosystem and habitat monitoring, civil structural health monitoring, etc., use these networks.This is all about the wireless sensors networks and their applications. We believe that the information about all the different types of networks will help you to know them better for your practical requirements. Apart from this, for additional information about wireless SCADA, queries, and doubts regarding this topic or electrical and electronic projects, and any suggestions, please comment or write to us in the comment section below.Photo CreditsWireless Sensor Networks by dolceraWireless Sensor Network Topologies by niUnderground WSNs by amritaUnder Water WSNs by jurdakMultimedia WSNs by ohio-stateWireless Sensor Networks Applications by immateriel Share This Post: Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Post navigation ‹ Previous Importance of Microwave Antennas in Communication SystemNext › Different Types of Relays and Their Working Principles Related Content What is a Carey Foster Bridge & Its Working What is a Spectrum Analyzer : Working & Its Applications What is an Inductive Reactance : Definition, Unit and Formula What is Dual Trace Oscilloscope : Working & Its Applications 7 CommentsYou are my breathing in, I own few blogs and rarely run out from to brand.I believe this website contains some rattling excellent information for everyone. “Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.” by Napoleon.ReplyHi Tarun,Excellent post. Thanks for providing a nice article of information regarding WLSN types and its awesome applications. Nice style of presentation.Replyhi these is dilip of 2nd year cse student here i am interested to do some projects can you please post me some project and sugestions to do itReplyRequired a full pdf about this topicReplyhi could u kindly suggest me a project.i’m very much interested in doing projects i’m in 2nd ece 1st sem u can give me some ideas to my mail also bandlasireesha1970@gmail.com plzReplyplease I need a project that solves a major (african) problem using control systems and 8051 microcontrollers. with details on how to go about it.ReplyPlease i would like you to help me with any project topic on communication technology and materialReplyAdd Comment Cancel replyComment:Name * Email * Website
You are my breathing in, I own few blogs and rarely run out from to brand.I believe this website contains some rattling excellent information for everyone. “Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.” by Napoleon.Reply
Hi Tarun,Excellent post. Thanks for providing a nice article of information regarding WLSN types and its awesome applications. Nice style of presentation.Reply
hi these is dilip of 2nd year cse student here i am interested to do some projects can you please post me some project and sugestions to do itReply
hi could u kindly suggest me a project.i’m very much interested in doing projects i’m in 2nd ece 1st sem u can give me some ideas to my mail also bandlasireesha1970@gmail.com plzReply
please I need a project that solves a major (african) problem using control systems and 8051 microcontrollers. with details on how to go about it.Reply
Please i would like you to help me with any project topic on communication technology and materialReply