Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is for placing many wireless sensors and collecting the information from those sensors. By using wireless communications, you do not need to hard-wire them and you can save on the costs for cables and installation. You can also construct a sensor network that was not possible before due to the limitations in installation places or costs before by making them wireless.

You can measure various data at different places using a wireless sensor network (WSN).

The following is an example

Outdoors

Environment monitoring (temperature, humidity, illuminance, and precipitation), GPS measurement, street lamp control and monitoring, disaster prevention, building monitoring, CEMS

Store

Lighting control, air conditioning control and monitoring, refrigerator, POS system, electronic shelf label

House

RF remote control, home sensors (temperature, humidity, house dust, illuminance), security, smart home, HAN, HEMS

Building

Lighting control, air conditioning control and monitoring (HVAC), security, BEMS

Factory

Power monitoring, communications between FA devices, automated machine control and monitoring, indicator control, FEMS

Warehouse

Logistics monitoring, position monitoring, air conditioning control and monitoring, active RF tag

With the use of ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 Module TOCOS Wireless Engine, you can build a wireless sensor network (WSN) in various places.

Network Topology

The network topologies to build a wireless sensor network (WSN) include a point-to-point, star, tree, mesh, and linear one.

Star Network

Star Network consists of 1 coordinator and more than one end device (N), which build a sensor network in a star shape with 1 vs N.

Tree Network

Tree Network consists of 1 coordinator, more than one router and end device, which build a sensor network in the shape of branches.

Mesh Network

Mesh Network can construct several communications paths with a coordinator and routers connected to other terminals like a mesh. The data from each terminal are relayed like a bucket brigade, but if some trouble happens in certain communications path, it automatically takes a detour to another router and continues the communications successfully.

Linear Network

Linear Network constitutes a sensor network along a line. It is also called "pearl network", because it looks like a pearl necklace.

The best network topology to establish a wireless sensor network (WSN) is selected according to your application. ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 Module TOCOS Wireless Engine offers a wide range of options as explained above.

Wireless Standard for Wireless Sensor Networks

The requirements for a wireless module which is indispensable to establish a wireless sensor network (WSN) are as follows:

- Can be driven by batteries for a long time at low power consumption, and does not require a power supply cable.
- Should be small and compact, and can be installed anywhere.
- Should be able to establish a flexible network.
- Resistant to noise and ensures stable communications.
- Should be able to encrypt communications contents to ensure security.

The wireless standard established to meet those requirements is IEEE802.15.4. With the aim of constructing a wireless sensor network (WSN), IEEE802.15.4 is the most suitable international standard for wireless sensor communications. Because it is an international standard, it does not rely on a single company and therefore stable supply of a product can be ensured. It also works better in terms of price competitiveness.

The following points are specialized for a wireless sensor network (WSN) in IEEE802.15.4.

- A number of nodes can join a sensor network, so a large-scale network can be established (up to 65535).
- It only takes a blink of an eye to connect to a sensor network and be put in a state that can start communications, so no wasteful power is consumed.
- The communications speed is optimized for a wireless sensor network (WSN), thus enhancing power saving performance and communications sensitivity.


ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 Module TOCOS Wireless Engine is a wireless module useful for making various sensors wireless. Take advantage of the product to develop a device for establishing a wireless sensor network (WSN).

Related Information

- What is IEEE802.15.4?
- What is Internet of Things?
- Communications between Devices: What is Wireless M2M Communications?
- What are HEMS, BEMS, FEMS, and CEMS?

Related Products

Sensor Network Evaluation Kit