Ultra-Low Power Integrated Wireless Nodes for Sensor and Actuator Networks

Abstract

In earlier chapters, it was described how the capability to build and deploy dense wireless networks of heterogeneous nodes collecting and disseminating wide ranges of environmental data enables a multiplicity of exciting scenarios. To mention just a few: smart homes with optimized environmental control and energy management, coordinated media delivery, integrated security, identification and personalization, robot control and guidance in automatic manufacturing environments, warehouse inventory, integrated patient monitoring, diagnostics and drug administration in hospitals, and interactive toys and museums. The mind-boggling opportunities emerging from these technologies indeed give rise to new definitions to the terms “ubiquitous computing” and “user interface”. Regardless of the specific application, however, they all rely on a network of ubiquitously-distributed sensor, compute and actuation nodes, which are integrated and embedded into the fabrics of our daily living environment. This explains why the name “ambient intelligence” is often attributed to such environments. Widespread deployment of these ubiquitous networks requires that some economic and physical realities are met. More precisely, the physical implementation of an individual network node is constrained by three important metrics: cost, size and power. A true ubiquitous deployment is only economically feasible if the cost of the individual elements is ignorable, or, in other words, the electronics have become disposable. Depending upon the intended market and the number of nodes required for a single deployment, this translates to price points per node ranging from $10 to substantially below $1. Achieving a node cost this low requires a minimal number of components, a high level of integration, simple and cheap packaging and assembly, and avoidance of any expensive components and/or technologies. In addition, the cost for the deployment and the maintenance of the network should be ignorable.