Wireless sensor networks are built from nodes which have at least one sensor attached to them. To increase robustness and capacity, a signal from one node can be routed through many different nodes before it reaches its destination node (i.e. a base station). A smart antenna with a steerable beam has the potential, compared to a monopole, to increase the signal-to-noise ratio between nodes and hence provide more reliable communication paths. In this study, the data routing and link performance of a rhombus-shaped mesh network using four IEEE 802.15.4 compliant MICAz sensor nodes (motes) is assessed using both monopole and smart antennas. Both reflectionless and multipath-rich environments are used. It is shown that the electronically steerable parasitic array smart antenna offers a superior performance to a monopole antenna in both environments, while still consuming a similar amount of input power.

References

1. 1)
  - J. Yick , B. Mukherjee , D. Ghosal . Wireless sensor network survey. Comput. Netw. , 12 , 2292 - 2330
2. 2)
  - 16. Collett, M., Loh, T.-H., Liu, H., Qin, F.: ‘Smart antennas and wireless sensor networks – achieving efficient, reliable communications’. Science Poster, National Physical Laboratory, UK, May 2012, Available: www.npl.co.uk/content/ConMediaFile/6476.
3. 3)
  - 7. Hammoudeh, M., Newman, R.: ‘Adaptive routing in wireless sensor networks: QoS optimisation for enhanced application performance’, Inf. Fusion, 2013, 22, pp. 3–15 (doi: 10.1016/j.inffus.2013.02.005).
4. 4)
  - 24. Ni, S.Y., Tseng, Y.C., Chen, Y.S., et al: ‘The broadcast storm problem in a mobile Ad Hoc network’. ACM/IEEE MobiCom Int. Conf., Seattle, WA, USA, 15–19 August 1999, pp. 151–162.
5. 5)
  - 1. Lewis, F.L.: ‘Wireless sensor networks’, in Cook, D.J., Das, S.K. (Eds.): ‘Smart environments: technologies, protocols, and applications’ (Wiley-Interscience, 2004, 1st edn.), pp. 13–46.
6. 6)
  - 18. Dimitriou, T., Kalis, A.: ‘Efficient delivery of information in sensor networks using smart antennas’. Proc. Algorithmic Aspects of Wireless Sensor Networks, Turku, Finland, 2004, pp. 109–122.
7. 7)
  - 28. AT86RF230 Datasheet, Atmel Co. Ltd., 2009, pp. 101–108.
8. 8)
  - 3. Puccinelli, D., Haenggi, M.: ‘Wireless sensor networks: applications and challenges of ubiquitous sensing’, IEEE Circuits Syst. Mag., 2005, 5, (3), pp. 19–31 (doi: 10.1109/MCAS.2005.1507522).
9. 9)
  - 2. Erdelj, M., Mitton, N., Natalizio, E.: ‘Applications of industrial wireless sensor networks’, in Güngör, V.Ç., Hancke, G.P. (Eds.): ‘Industrial wireless sensor networks: applications, protocols, and standards’ (CRC Press, 2013, 1st edn.), pp. 1–22.
10. 10)
  - 20. Polo, N.: ‘A location routing protocol based on smart antennas for wireless sensor networks’. Master thesis, University of Montreal, 2010.
11. 11)
  - 25. Texas Instruments, CC2420 datasheet.
12. 12)
  - 21. Mabboni, T.: ‘Routing in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) using smart antennas’. Master thesis, University of Trento, 2007.
13. 13)
  - 15. Sathiya, P., Lakshmi, C.R., Sultana, A.: ‘A comparative study on performance evaluation of smart antenna for wireless communication-a review’, Int. J. Eng. Sci. Technol., 2013, 5, (04s), pp. 35–41.
14. 14)
  - J.N. Al-Karaki , A.E. Kamal . Routing techniques in wireless sensor networks: a survey. IEEE Wirel. Commun. , 6 , 6 - 28
15. 15)
  - 17. Mottola, L., Voigt, T., Picco, G.P.: ‘Electronically-switched directional antennas for wireless sensor networks: a full-stack evaluation’. Tenth Annual IEEE Communications Society Conf. on Sensor, Mesh and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks (SECON), New Orleans, LA, USA, June 2013, pp. 176–184.
16. 16)
  - 29. Qin, F., Mitchell, J.E.: ‘AS-MAC: utilizing the adaptive spreading code length for wireless sensor networks’, ACM Trans. Sens. Netw., 2013, 10, (1), pp. 1–29 (doi: 10.1145/2529921).
17. 17)
  - 6. Radi, M., Dezfouli, B., Bakar, K.A., et al: ‘Multipath routing in wireless sensor networks: survey and research challenges’, Sensors, 2012, 12, pp. 650–685 (doi: 10.3390/s120100650).
18. 18)
  - 26. B. E. 61000-4-21:2011: ‘Electromagnetic Compatibility, Part 4–21: testing and measurement techniques – reverberation chamber test methods’. BSI Standards Publication, 2011.
19. 19)
  - 27. Hope, D., Dawson, J., Marvin, A., et al: ‘Assessing the performance of ZigBee in a reverberant environment using a mode stirred chamber’. IEEE EMC Int. Symp., Detroit, MI, USA, 18–22 August 2008, pp. 1–6.
20. 20)
  - 22. Loh, T.-H., Collett, M.: ‘A rigorous measurement technique for radiation pattern characterisation of embedded wireless communication systems’. 31st Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symp. (PIERS 2012), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 2012, pp. 1405–1408.
21. 21)
  - 12. Liu, H.T., Gao, S., Loh, T.-H., et al: ‘Low-cost intelligent antenna with low profile and broad bandwidth’, IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2013, 7, (5), pp. 356–364 (doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2011.0398).
22. 22)
  - 19. Bandyopadhyay, S., Hasuike, K., Horisawa, S., et al: ‘An adaptive MAC and directional routing protocol for Ad Hoc wireless network using ESPAR antenna’. Proc. ACM Int. Symp. on Mobile Ad Hoc Networking and Computing, California, USA, 2001, pp. 243–246.
23. 23)
  - 23. Loh, T.H.: ‘Non-invasive measurement of electrically small ultra-wideband and smart antennas’. Invited paper in the Ninth Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conf. (LAPC 2013), Loughborough, UK, November 2013, pp. 456–460.
24. 24)
  - 11. Liu, H.T., Gao, S., Loh, T.-H.: ‘Electrically small and low cost smart antenna for wreless communication’, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., 2012, 60, (3), pp. 1540–1549 (doi: 10.1109/TAP.2011.2180300).
25. 25)
  - 14. Voigt, T., Mottola, L., Hewage, K.: ‘Understanding link dynamics in wireless sensor networks with dynamically steerable directional antennas’, Wirel. Sens. Netw. –Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2013, 7772, pp. 115–130.
26. 26)
  - 8. Sexton, D., Mahony, M., Lapinski, M., Werb, J.: ‘Radio channel quality in industrial wireless sensor networks’. 2005 Sensors for Industry Conf., 8–10 February 2005, pp. 88–94.
27. 27)
  - 13. Viani, F., Lizzi, L., Donelli, M., et al: ‘Exploitation of parasitic smart antennas in wireless sensor networks’, J. Electromag. Waves Appl., 2010, 24, (7), pp. 993–1003 (doi: 10.1163/156939310791285227).
28. 28)
  - 9. Sun, C., Cheng, J., Ohira, T. (Eds.): ‘Handbook on advancements in smart antenna technologies for wireless networks’ (Information Science Reference, 2008, 1st edn.).
29. 29)
  - 10. Gross, F.: ‘Smart antennas for wireless communications: with MATLAB’ (McGraw-Hill Professional, 2005, 1st edn.).

Assessment of the adaptive routing performance of a Wireless Sensor Network using smart antennas

References

Related content