Intel Mote-based sensor networks

Abstract

The Intel Mote is a new sensor node platform motivated by several design goals: increased CPU performance, improved radio bandwidth and reliability, as well as the usage of commercial off-the-shelf components in order to maintain cost-effectiveness. This paper details the new platform architecture as well as practical experiences with the new mote regarding CPU and radio performance, networking algorithms, and battery life. The new platform is built around an integrated wireless microcontroller consisting of an ARM7 core, a Bluetooth radio, RAM and FLASH memory, as well as various I/O options. Due to the connection-oriented nature of Bluetooth, new network formation and maintenance algorithms that are optimized for this protocol have been created. In particular, the ‘scatternet’ mode of Bluetooth has been successfully adapted to form networks comprised of multiple piconets. The Intel Mote software architecture is based on an ARM port of TinyOS. Networking and routing layers have been created on top of the TinyOS base to provide the underlying multi-hop functionality. The network is self-organizing on startup and has mechanisms to repair failed links and circumvent failed nodes. Lower level functionality has been abstracted in the higher-level interface to allow the application programmer to utilize a virtual mesh network view without having to manage details of the Bluetooth operation. A reliable high bandwidth streaming transport layer has also been created. The Intel Mote was deployed in a pilot equipment monitoring application using industrial vibration sensors. This application was chosen since it benefits from the increased platform capabilities and network bandwidth of the Intel Mote platform. It also represents a potentially large market in the industrial monitoring and controls sector. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the observed network operation, packet transfer rates and power consumption. More importantly, a number of the technical features of this application can be extended to other areas such as building and structural monitoring. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.