Architectural elements of integrated micro-sensors for distributed sensor networks

摘要

Recent advancements in the design, fabrication and packaging of micro electro-mechanical (MEM) sensors with embedded computing and wireless communication capabilities have made positive impacts on persistent surveillance of large areas in hostile conditions. We outline a set of core capabilities required of smart sensors to establish their precise location and perform collaborative sensing to gain and maintain maximum situation awareness. Such features include: CORDIC structured computations, direction selective transmission and reception through RF-MEMS, chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC), infra structure assisted sensing, among others. Then we outline several system-level considerations such as: command, control, collaborative & cognitive computation and communication, and offer an enduser perspective of intelligent sensors in mission oriented sensor networks. The objective is to provide insights into the critical challenges for increasing the effectiveness of future sensor networks. We use a hypothetical counter-sniper system as an example to concretely emphasize the value of such features.