Technology
In a market characterized by great fragmentation,
it is crucial that users carefully evaluate which wireless technology
best suits their needs. Although Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have
collectively garnered much attention, differences in technologies and
respective implementations from different vendors are quite significant.
Many systems on the market today are solutions that, although
compelling for specific applications, aren’t suited for all situations.
Wireless Sensors has recognized this shortcoming, and therefore
architected a framework to provide broader applicability and to keep
pace with technology evolution as the industry continues to grow.
Standards-based:
Our RF technology relies on the proven IEEE 802.15.4 physical
layer and MAC. IEEE 802.15.4 is specifically designed for low power, low
data rate and low-cost wireless sensor communiction, unlike WiFi (IEEE
802.11.X) and Bluetooth which provide high data throughput at the
expense of high power consumption (WiFi) or short range (Bluetooth). The
designers at the IEEE had battery operated sensor networks in mind when
the standard was developed and it remains the premier choice for these
networks due to the many attributes designed in to the standard.
Ultra-low power:
Extended operation on battery power or the use of
energy scavenging is a key requirement in the deployment of wireless
sensor networks.
Wireless Sensors' use of the IEEE 802.15.4 radio
standard leverages the inherent power efficiency of these radios and
further optimized by a power effiecient protocol and low power
microelectronics makes multi-year battery operation of Smart Sensors a
reality.
The devices operate in a "sleep mode" the vast
majority of their lives and wake up for a few millisenconds on a field
selectable basis to communicate data.
Mesh Networking:
The self-organizing and self-healing properties
provide maximum fault tolerance and deployment flexibility. Sensor nodes
establish connections and transmission paths by themselves, and are
capable of multi-hop routing for formation of arbitrary topologies and
bridging of extended distances.
Robust and secure transmissions:
For maximum reliability, Wireless Sensors employs automatic
retries, acknowledgements, and a channel hopping scheme and in addition,
join requests by new nodes can be authenticated via access control list
so that only known and legitimate nodes are granted access, based on
their unique MAC address.
Field device and system compatibility
Smart sensors measure ambient temperature and humidity,
accept 4-20 mA, 0-10 V analog, PT100, pulse, and digital inputs from
field devices or meters. Seamless integration with fieldbus and
management systems is provided through Ethernet, Modbus, OPC, ODBC, SOAP
and Web Services ensuring easy integration in new or legacy systems. The
system also will operate as a stand alone data logging, reporting and
alarming system for applications more suited to this capability.
