Sleipnir: A Versatile Extremely Low Duty-Cycle Sensor Network

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a new information paradigm based on the collaboration of a large number of self-organized sensing nodes that can be used for applications such as assisted living, infrastructure protection and scientific exploration. Along with advantages such as low-cost and low-profile, sensor networks are severely resource constrained, especially in terms of energy supply due to its small-form-factor. However, many sensor network based applications require a lifetime that can span tens of years. In order to bridge the gap between limited energy supply and long-term operation requirement, we then have to build extremely low duty-cycle sensor networks where sensor nodes stay in a dormant state for most of the time. In this thesis research, we initiate the first systematic research in this frontier under a wide spectrum of design space, including static, dynamic and mobile networks.