Self-organizing distributed sensor networks

Advances in CMOS IC and micro electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) technologies are enabling construction of low-cost building blocks each of which incorporates sensing, signal processing, and wireless communications. Collections of these integrated microsensor nodes may be formed into sensor networks in a wide variety of ways, with characteristics that depend on the specific application--the total number of nodes, the spatial density, the geometric configuration (e.g., linear vs. areal), topographic aspects (e.g., smooth vs. rough terrain), and proximity and proportion of user/sink points. The power of these distributed sensor networks will be unleashed by means of their ability to self-organize, i.e., to bootstrap and dynamically maintain organizational structure befitting the purpose and situation that is presented, without the need for human assistance. A prototype sensor system and networking protocols are being developed under the DARPA/TTO AWAIRS Program and are described.