Modular wireless sensor and Actuator Network Nodes with Plug-and-Play module connection

Abstract

In the paper we introduce the new concept of the modular Wireless Sensor and Actuator Network (WSAN) Nodes with Plug-and-Play(P&P) module connection capability. Unlike the state-of-the-art solutions, our platform features modularity in both hardware and software domains, and supports automatic discovery and identification of the modules, which combined, enable automatic P&P modules identification and take in use. According to our vision, the new generation of the WSAN nodes might be built by stacking together the hardware P&P modules encapsulating various power supply sources, processing units, wired and wireless transceivers, sensors and actuators, peripheral devices or the sets of those. Once a node is assembled, the processing unit of the node identifies all attached modules, and downloads the necessary software drivers for working with those and the applications out of the network. In the paper, we introduce the concept, discuss the related challenges, present our hardware architecture solution, and report the first results on the implementation of the hardware testbed platform. In this study, we attempt to reconcile both trends. The specifics and the main contributions of this paper are 1) the suggested modular WSAN node concept with plug-and- play (P&P) connection of the modules and 2) the proposed hardware architecture and mechanisms enabling its implemen- tation. We aim at enabling one to build the WSAN nodes with the desired functionality by combining together the P&P hardware modules, containing the different sensors, actuators, communication interfaces, power sources or other peripherals. Moreover, the solution provides the WSAN node's main pro- cessing unit with a universal mechanism for controlling the power consumption of the peripherals, which are available on the connected modules. This feature is especially beneficial for WSAN-based DMC applications, in which the nodes are often restricted in the available energy and require an effective energy management mechanism. In the current paper we focus specifically on the concept and the hardware (HW) architectural solutions. In the further works we plan to discuss in details the other aspects related to the software (SW) architecture, communication mechanisms, networking aspects, and the algorithms for inter- and intranode optimizations based on the data about nodes' modules and peripherals.