Abstract

The rapid decreases in power consumption, size and cost along with dramatic increases in performance of communication, sensing and computation have led to the development of Smart Dust – millimeter-scale autonomous systems that form the basis of massive distributed wireless sensor networks [1]. Smart Dust motes contain digital control and processing, one or more sensors, sensor interface circuits including an ADC, wireless communication, and energy storage/power source (Fig. 17.4.1) – integrating a complete, complex system into a millimeter-scale volume. Sample applications include inventory control, smart office spaces, fingertip accelerometer virtual keyboards, defense networks that could be rapidly deployed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), nodes that track the movements of birds, small animals, and even insects, and environmental networks that monitor conditions affecting crops and livestock.

Citations