Wireless Sensor Networks

I have been working in the area of embedded systems, wireless sensor networks. I am specifically working in applying these technologies to industrial applications. At the Center for Manufacturing Research, Tennessee Technological University, I am a part of a team working on “In-Situ Real Time Monitoring and Control of Mold Making and Filling Processes”. I worked on the reliable wireless data transmission protocol and energy efficient communication part for the framework. Below is the metal-fill monitoring framework using wireless sensor network.

Reliable Data Transmission for Harsh Environments

Data transport reliability is utmost important for high fidelity applications. One of these applications is metal-fill monitoring in Lost Foam Casting (LFC) process using wireless sensor network. The lossy foundry environment presents a great challenge for reliable wireless data transfer. An integrated protocol for reliable data transmission has been proposed which is well suited for such environments. Real casting experiments have been conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed protocol. The results show that the protocol is able to successfully retrieve all the lost data packets.

Fuzzy Transmission Power Controller for Wireless Sensor Network

Abstract–A generic fuzzy logic controller to maintain an optimal radio transmission power level in wireless sensor networks is designed. A study of the effects of two different environments on the wireless signal quality is studied. Empirical results are presented and are further used in the design of the fuzzy logic controller. A simple fuzzy controller is designed for closed loop control of the radio transmission power level.  It utilizes a signal quality parameter and the change in that parameter as inputs and produces an incremental change in the required power level of the transmitting node. The controller is implemented using a combination of Matlab, LabVEW on the server PC.  The algorithm is then put to test in an actual real world scenario. The results of the experiments show that the algorithm is capable of maintaining the radio transmission power level at an optimal level.  Calculation of the possible energy saving using the developed algorithm is presented.

Enhanced LabVIEW Toolkit for Wireless Sensor Network

I along with my research mates have developed LabVIEW toolkit to interface the embedded wireless sensor networks. The Toolkit supports both the TinyOS versions 1.x and 2.x. Packet structures for the two different TinyOS versions have been developed in LabVIEW. User can specify and build data command and control packets and relay information to the remote wireless sensor network over the TCP/IP or Serial UART