Recent Trends in Electronics for Wireless Sensor Networks

Jens Eliasson EISLAB Luleå University of Technology

2012-05-29

Projects in Sensor Networks at EISLAB

AESOP iRoad COBS I2Mine ...

Trends in embedded systems

Proprietary comm.

Standard based com

Move from simple application-specific protocols to general-purpose standards-based (such as TCP/IP, 6LoWPAN) Requires complex communication stacks, with security etc SOA Computer-based services and features

Trends in embedded systems

Move from hard coded software to: Real-time kernels Modules uClinux > Linux! Hardware crypto engines, floating point, ...

Simplistic sw

Real-time, kernel etc

hw accelerators

Trends in embedded systems

Move from single core CPU/MCU to: Multi core Mixed cores Programmable logic

Single core

Multi core

help cores

Trends in embedded systems

8 bit -> 32 bit < 10 kB -> 100+ kB RAM < 10 MHz -> 100+ MHz 1+ mA/MHz -> 0.1 mA/MHz Cost less than a few dollars SoC platforms (MCU+radio + ...) Smart communication chips Intelligent sensors and actuators Smart interface devices

Single core

Multi core

help cores

Trends in embedded systems

Proprietary comm.

Standard based com

Simplistic sw

Real-time, kernel etc

hw accelerators

Single core

Multi core

Future SoC?

CPU CPU

CPU

DSP

Encryption

Progr. logic

Hi-speed wired com

Event control

Wireless com

debug

FPU

Storage (FRAM)

Pwr mgt

Sensor(s)

Future SoC?

CPU CPU

CPU

DSP

Encryption

Progr. logic

Hi-speed wired com

Event control

Wireless com

Neuromorphic?

debug

FPU

Storage (FRAM)

Pwr mgt

Sensor(s)

However

More complex systems today! Current research focused on:

SOA-enabled communication Strong security Advanced sensors media, vibration, etc Signal processing

Software a major cost

Code

TinyOS, Contiki, ... Traditional (C/C++) programming Traditional (packet-based) communication Traditional (iterative) signal processing But ...

Code reuseability

TinyOS, Contiki, ... Traditional (C/C++) programming Traditional (packet-based) communication Traditional (iterative) signal processing But how should bio-inspired code/data be developed? modeled? transmitted? stored?

Think outside the box

STINT

Promising starting point for cooperation