Wireless Sensor Systems

Overview

Lectures and Schedule:
1. Introduction
2. Sensor Systems
3. Zigbee, 6LoWPAN
4. 802.11 MAC layer
5. Low Power WSN MACs
6. Reading week (Research for Presentation)
7. Presentations
8. IoT 802.11ah
9. Lab 1
10. Lab 2
11. Class Test
12. IoTLoRAWAN and other IoT
13. Rouiting for WSN
14. PowerManagement
15. Synchronization
16. Localization
16. Lab3
17. Lab4
18. Tutorials
20. Lab5 (Showcase)
Coursework:
1. Presentation (Research literature in Sensors and Presentation)
2. Class test (Semester 1)
3. Laboratory and Report (Semester 2)
Laboratory:
1. Lab 1. Sensor System Introduction.
2. Lab 2. Reading Sensor Data
3. Lab 3. RTC interfacing and data logging
4. Lab 4. Comparing sensor data and data analysis

Learning Objectives

The following LOs are provided through examination, laboratory and coursework (class test and presentation) with significant overlapping of LOs across assessment elements.
Science and Mathematics LOs:
Wireless Sensors Systems: sub-systems and challenges (SM1m).
Throughput and delay calculations. Time synchronization and localization. Power consumption calculations (SM2m).
Understanding of telecommunications protocols. Understanding of PHY layer. Apply knowledge to wireless sensor technologies (SM3m).
Enabling technologies for the Internet of Things. Recent standardization activity on these new technologies (SM4m).
Understanding of random access principles, contention and contention resolution. Appreciation of the limitations that these impose on future high dense wireless networks. (SM5m).
Understanding of hardware architectures, sensor technology and communication architectures. Applying them effectively when designing a wireless sensor system in coursework/laboratory. (SM6m).
Engineering Analysis LOs:
Understanding of basic PHY layer principles such as coding and modulation. Impact on throughput. (EA1m).
Performance assessment of layer 2 technologies (throughput and delay). (EA2m).
Time synchronization protocols. Non determinism of communication latency. Calculation of delay and offset. Critical path. Limitation of some synchronization protocols. Alternative protocols. (EA3m).
Integrating different subsystems (sensors, microcontroller, communication sub-subsystem) to provide engineering solutions, data acquisition and analysis through laboratory challenge. (EA4m).
Investigation of emerging technologies that enable IoT. IEEE 802.11ah. LoRaWAN (EA5m).
Design LOs:
Literature review of sensors and comparison (presentation).Presentation on a scientic paper of their choice in this context. (EA6m) (Design D6m).
Design of a wireless sensor system in laboratory to address a specific challenge/need (e.g. pollution monitoring, light and temperature sensing, calibration and comparison of data sets). (D8m)
Economic, Social and Environmental Context LOs:
Study of subsystems and commercial sensors to provide a wireless sensor system solution in lab (ET2m).
Engineering Practice LOs:
knowledge of wireless technologies (ZigBee, WiFi). IoT technologies: IEEE 802.11ah, LoRaWAN. Extensive knowledge of sensors. (EP2m).
Research on sensors and sensor comparison for presentation. (EP4m).
Understanding of recent standards for IoT communication technologies: IEEE 802.11ah. (EP6m).
Appreciation of new developments in IoT (systems and platforms). (EP9m).
Consideration of commercial components and constraints in lab. (EP10m).
Understanding of different roles in a collaborative project. Initiative and personal responsibility for their individual role.(EP11m).

Skills

Effective communication of knowledge and ideas.
The ability to critically assess and design modern wireless communications systems and in particular wireless sensor networks and systems using data acquisition boards.
The ability to understand existing system architectures and standards in such a context.
Use embedded software to program arduino based systems and perform sensor data acquisition, data analysis.

Assessment

None