Implementation of Physical and MAC Layer in Wireless Sensor Network for Fixed Topology

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks have been proposed for many novel applications including microclimate monitoring, distributed control, and tracking objects. Wireless Sensor networks operate in a new realm of constraints. Whenever sensor nodes are deployed in large number, cost of single node does not bother much but collectively they form a headache. Cost is an important parameter to be kept in mind while designing a sensor node. Moreover, nodes are required to run for many months on small power supplies. They must be robust, collect and report data, and use communication to organize.

Sensor Node design and Medium access control for wireless sensor networks have been very active research area for the past couple of years. In Medium Access Control many have proposed traditional protocols that are similar to 802.11 or Ethernet. Since Wireless Sensor Networks are a new domain of wireless application, these protocols do not affect power or efficiency parameter.

The work presented here focuses on the parameters that affect issues like sensor node physical design and MAC Layer. With the study of these parameters, an attempt is made to design a low cost sensor node. Moreover a tool kit for programming the node has also been developed. Through this tool kit different well known medium access protocols are tested and analyzed for Sensor network environment.