1. Wireless Sensor Networks in Industry
Alan Broad, CTO,Crossbow Technology
Topics
Introduction
SensorNet Technology
Case Studies

2. Corporate Overview
Global Leader in Sensory Systems
Founded 1995
MEMS-Based Inertial Systems
Wireless Sensor Networking
110 Employees World Wide
$25M in Venture Capital San Jose Headquarters
Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation
Morgenthaler Ventures, Paladin Capital
www.xbow.com 2

3. Wireless Sensor Network – Architecture
Gateway
Processor/ Sensor Node Sensor Board Intra/Internet
Radio Board
www.xbow.com 3

4. Wireless Sensor Network Market Forecast
160
140
120
units (millions)
100
Conservative
80
Aggressive
60
40
20
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Source: ON World, In-Stat, WTRS, Harbor Research
www.xbow.com 4

5. Market Stages
Pilots 2001-2005
Proof-of-ROI
$100-$1000/node
Ramp-up 2006-2008
Reliability, Integration, Security
$10-$100/node
Mass Market 2009-2011
Standards, Cost, Size
<$10/node
www.xbow.com 5

6. Why Do Customers Deploy Wireless Sensors?
1) Lower cost of wiring
2) Networking of standalone sensors
3) New deployment paradigms where wiring is not possible
www.xbow.com 6

7. Reasons/Motivation
Lower cost of wiring
$20 to $2000 per foot
20% to 80% of the installation
time
Assumptions Traditional Sensor Networks
Sensor Cost $2,000 $350
Data Acquisition Cost $65 $0
Wiring Cost $75 $15
Illustrates benefit of Cost Per Sensor $2,140 $365
MEMS + Wireless
Num Channels 65 65
Total Cost $139,100 $23,725
www.xbow.com 7

8. Reasons/Motivation
Networking of stand alone
sensors
HVAC
Physical Security systems
Fire and Safety systems
Lighting control
www.xbow.com 8

9. Reasons/Motivation
New paradigms for sensors
where wiring is difficult
Mining operations
Construction sites
Hazardous environments
Landscape irrigation
www.xbow.com 9

10. Wireless Sensor Networks – An Introduction

11. Convergence of Technologies
Sensors: Miniaturization, micromachining, and low cost manufacturing leads to
smaller sizes, low power, lower costs. Allows us to monitor with higher
granularity. Many types or sensors and more on the way.
Computing/Internet: Computing Wireless (RF): Spans a host of
power is becoming small and Smarter, Smaller technologies including ZigBee and
WiFi networks, cellular and satellite
inexpensive enough to add to almost Sensors communications. Enables a wireless
any object. Networks of computers
facilitate collaboration through and mobile Internet.
information and resource sharing.
Embedded Computing Ubiquitous Wireless
www.xbow.com 11

12. Wireless Technologies
Hi-Fi Streaming Digital Multi-channel
Text Graphics Internet
audio video video video
2G 3/3.5G 4G
GSM/CDMA UMTS/CDMA2000/TD-SCMA Up to 4 WAN
Up to 64 kbps (384 kbps to over 3 Mbps) MB/sec
Up to WiMax/802.16
Up to 75 Mbps
50 km MAN
LMDS
Up to 38 Mbps
Ubiquitous Sensor Networks 802.11g
Up to 54 Mbps
100 m Bluetooth1 802.11b LAN
Sub-GHz Up to 723 kbps Up to 11 Mbps 802.11a
802.15.4 Up to 54 Mbps
ISM Zigbee
<100 kbps 250 kbps
10 m Bluetooth2
Up to 3 Mbps
PAN
<1 m RFID
Low Data Rate High Data Rate
www.xbow.com From Wireless Sensor Networks by Feng Zhao and Leo Gubias, 2004.
12

13. Example Application: Physical Security
Multi Node: Light
level, magnetic
events, tilt, discrete Gateway Node: Aggregation, hi speed
events communication, web server
Hi-Bandwidth
Node: Audio,
video
Mobile node:
asset and
personnel
tracking
www.xbow.com 13

14. A Framework for Sensor Network Platforms
Battery powered Wireless Platforms
Wireless Platforms Line powered
Specific Purpose
Specific Purpose Multi Purpose
Multi Purpose High Bandwidth
High Bandwidth Gateway
Gateway
Example name and size “Mote”; 1 cm3 to 10 cm3
Multipurpose sensing and/or
Applications
data communications relay.
Radio data rate < 100 kbps
MIPS < 10
“MICA2” by Crossbow
Flash < 0.5 MB
RAM < 10 kB
Energy usage (typ.) 3 V × (10 to 15) mA
Sleep energy (typ.) 1.8 V × 10 μA
Duty cycle (typ.) 0.5 % to 2 %
“MICA2DOT” by Crossbow
www.xbow.com 14

15. A Framework for Sensor Network Platforms
Battery powered Wireless Platforms
Wireless Platforms Line powered
Specific Purpose
Specific Purpose Multi Purpose
Multi Purpose High Bandwidth
High Bandwidth Gateway
Gateway
Example name and size “MICAz”; 1 cm3 to 10 cm3
High bandwidth sensing such as
Applications image transfer, audio, and
vibration.
Radio data rate < 500 kbps
MIPS < 50
Flash < 10 MB
RAM < 128 kB
Energy usage (typ.) 3 V × 60 mA
“MICAz” and “ iMOTE2” by Sleep energy (typ.) 3 V × 100 μA
Crossbow and Intel/Crossbow
Duty cycle (typ.) 5 % to 10 %
www.xbow.com 15

16. High Performance iMOTEz hardware platform
Basic connector
• UART, I2C, SPI
• GPIO PXA 271 or 273 CPU
• Power • 13/104 MHz
• SDIO • 256k SRAM
• FLASH • 0/32MB SDRAM
• BT radio • 32MB FLASH
• 802.11 radio 802.15.4 radio
• Up to100m range
Power subsystem
• Regulated supply
• Li-Ion battery charger
Advanced connector
• Camera interface
Value components • High speed I/O
• Security coprocessor • Audio interface
• Root certificate • USB host/client
• Encryption • Power
• RF location
• Scalable 32b CPU&DSP
www.xbow.com 16

17. MICA OEM Stamp
Full wireless node platforms (MICA) at Low-Cost
916/868 Mhz (1mW, 100mW, 1W transmit power)
Mesh networking firmware
Small OEM Form Factor
(Left) Standard US postage stamp. (Right) MICAz Postage Stamp
www.xbow.com 17

18. Why Mesh ?
Radio contour plots shows
that received radio strength
varies significantly from
idealized pattern
Ref: D. Ganesan, B. Krishnamachari, A. Woo, D. Culler, D.
Estrin, S. Wicker, “UCLA Computer Science Technical Report
UCLA/CSD-TR 02-0013,”
www.xbow.com 18

19. Why Mesh ?
Static links show
variability in receive
strength over time
Local null effects, people,
etc., influence the quality
of link
Ref: UC Berkeley
www.xbow.com 19

20. WSN Requirements
Radios
(315, 433, 868, 902-928)Mhz, 2.4Ghz
Multiple transmit powers (1mW,100mW,1W)
Network Topologies
Star (hub and spoke)
Hybrid Mesh (high powered and low powered nodes)
All nodes are routers (long battery life)
Multiple Data Flow Support
Any-to-base (upstream)
Base-to-any (downstream)
Multiple Levels of Quality of Service
Best effort
Link-to-link ack/nack
End-to-end ack/nack
www.xbow.com 20

21. Wireless Sensor Networks
Topics
The Physical Internet
Technology Background
Examples/Case Studies

22. Case Studies
1. Environmental Monitoring for Seedling Nurseries
2. Water Irrigation
3. Predictive Maintenance of Large Machinery/Equipment
4. Temperature Monitoring for Electric Heat Tracing
5. Power Transmission Line Monitoring
6. Health Club Equipment Monitoring and Membership
Services
www.xbow.com 22

23. 20 Million Seed Management
Task:
Manage 20 million fast growing seeds annually
Issue:
Seed dormancy depends on a complex
combination of water, light, temperature, gasses,
mechanical restrictions, seed coats, and hormone
structures
Southeastern US growing regions
www.xbow.com 23

24. Tree Growth Rate Variability
Old Method Sensor Network Way:
Trust nature Monitor soil temperature and
Monitor local atmospheric moisture at various locations
conditions Adjust irrigation schedule
accordingly
www.xbow.com 24

25. Network Characteristics
Sensor Network Characteristics
2-3 sensors per acre
Average distance between nodes about 400’
50-100 acres total
Low data rate
www.xbow.com 25

26. Case Studies
1. Environmental Monitoring for Seedling Nurseries
2. Water Irrigation
3. Predictive Maintenance of Large Machinery/Equipment
4. Temperature Monitoring for Electric Heat Tracing
5. Power Transmission Line Monitoring
6. Health Club Equipment Monitoring and Membership
Services
www.xbow.com 26

27. Golf Course Water Irrigation
Task:
Improve quality of golf course greens
Reduce water usage
Issue:
Greens quality depends on complex factors
including soil type, soil moisture and other
parameters.
Southeastern US growing regions
www.xbow.com 27

28. Green Quality Variability
Old Method Sensor Network Way:
Green keepers monitor each Monitor soil moisture and soil
green for quality. temperature of each green.
Monitor local atmospheric Adjust irrigation schedule
conditions accordingly
www.xbow.com 28

29. Network Characteristics
Sensor Network Topology
One underground sensor at each green communicating with above
ground nodes.
High power backbone mesh to relay data
10-30 above ground mesh nodes
9-18 underground nodes
1Watt radios
www.xbow.com 29

30. Case Studies
1. Environmental Monitoring for Seedling Nurseries
2. Water Irrigation
3. Predictive Maintenance of Large Machinery/Equipment
4. Temperature Monitoring for Electric Heat Tracing
5. Power Transmission Line Monitoring
6. Health Club Equipment Monitoring and Membership
Services
www.xbow.com 30

31. Customer Case Study – BP
What
Vibration monitoring on oil tankers
Manual sensor reading replaced
with wireless sensor network
Results
Lower maintenance cost
Proof of reliability of wireless
sensor network in harshest
environment
Recognized with BP Helios Award
www.xbow.com 31

32. Benefits
Much more effective condition
monitoring regime
Continuous visibility to the
engine equipment and
condition
Reduced costs and errors
compared to manually data
collection
www.xbow.com 32

33. Network Characteristics
Nodes
High performance node (ImoteZ) for 100Khz data
sampling and large data storage.
Mesh wakes-up and forms 1-2 times per day.
Bulk transfer of large data sets to base station.
Wifi mesh to relay data from WSN to server.
www.xbow.com 33

34. Case Studies
1. Environmental Monitoring for Seedling Nurseries
2. Water Irrigation
3. Predictive Maintenance of Large Machinery/Equipment
4. Temperature Monitoring for Electric Heat Tracing
5. Power Transmission Line Monitoring
6. Health Club Equipment Monitoring and Membership
Services
www.xbow.com 34

35. Electric Heat Tracing
System Components
Heater Cables
Components
Power distribution
Controls
Accessories
Insulation
Design Service
Construction
Maintenance
www.xbow.com 35

36. Elements of a Electric Heat Tracing Circuit
RTD Insulated Pipe
Heat Tracing
RTD
Lead Wire “Cold Lead”
Controller
3 Phase Power
www.xbow.com 36

37. #1 Target: Eliminate RTD Lead Wiring
Replacement Cost:
is 20 x Mote Cost
20 ckt plus 1 Gateway
Mesh
RTD/VRC
www.xbow.com 37

38. WSN Characteristics
50-100 units per site with 3 RTDs per unit
Typically 100’-200’ between units.
1 mW radios, 916Mhz
Minimum 5 years battery.
Upstream communication only
Data transmitted every 5 minutes
www.xbow.com 38

39. Case Studies
1. Environmental Monitoring for Seedling Nurseries
2. Water Irrigation
3. Predictive Maintenance of Large Machinery/Equipment
4. Temperature Monitoring for Electric Heat Tracing
5. Power Transmission Line Monitoring
6. Health Club Equipment Monitoring and Membership
Services
www.xbow.com 39

40. High Voltage Transmission Line Monitoring
Objective
Locate failures of high voltage
power lines.
Monitor the electric and magnetic
fields at each high voltage pole..
Detect failure and relay information
to control station
www.xbow.com 40

41. WSN Characteristics
Linear array: relay data 20-40 hops to a base
station.
500-1000’ between hop
100mW to 1W radios
Minimum 5-10 years battery life with solar.
www.xbow.com 41

42. Case Studies
1. Environmental Monitoring for Seedling Nurseries
2. Water Irrigation
3. Predictive Maintenance of Large Machinery/Equipment
4. Temperature Monitoring for Electric Heat Tracing
5. Power Transmission Line Monitoring
6. Health Club Equipment Monitoring and Membership Services
www.xbow.com 42

43. Customer Case Study – Life Fitness
Task
Improve health club profitability
by increasing membership
retention.
Use wireless network for fitness
equipment to download and
monitor personalized workouts
Use wireless network to
monitoring equipment usage
www.xbow.com 43

44. Customer Case Study – Life Fitness
Old Method Sensor Network Way:
Member’s fill out work out
cards after exercising on each Work out information for each
machine. user is wirelessly transmitted
User’s responsible to to a machine before workout.
determine amount of exercise, Actual workout information
each workout. transmitted back to server
No feedback after the workout
Club owner’s don’t know User’s get immediate
which pieces of equipment are feedback on their workout
more heavily used Club owners know usage of
each machine
www.xbow.com 44

45. Customer Case Study – Life Fitness
WSN Characteristics :
Limited power for radio communication on all
machines.
Some machines are always powered – form high
speed communication backbone
Some machines are battery powered – act as
leaf nodes.
More downstream communication than
upstream.
www.xbow.com 45