António S. Lebres

Survey on the Characterization and Classification of Wireless Sensor Network Applications

Nowadays, wireless sensor network (WSN) users are demanding more and more in terms of choice and diversity of applications. Hence, as the diversity of applications is increasing, it is worthwhile to propose a structure for the set of characterization parameters that allows sketching a taxonomy for WSN applications. This taxonomy is established via an application-oriented approach, identifying the specific services offered by each application. In this survey, we fill this gap in the WSN literature by describing the characterization parameters, organized into six different categories. Our taxonomy for application classification is centered on the different sets of parameters that have high impact on a given future WSN application. Typical attributes and values from related research works are considered as a reference, but in this survey, we propose inter- and intra-connections among the considered application groups. Based on these connections, new application groups have been proposed for applications that share common characterization parameters, along with a holistic overview of WSN application taxonomy and the discussion of the three generations of WSNs toward communication between things and the Internet of Things, as well as future trends for the development of WSN applications. Moreover, detailed parameters from different projects and authors in the field of WSNs are joined together for comparison purposes.

Smart-clothing wireless flex sensor belt network for foetal health monitoring

In the past years low power circuits design and networking techniques not only reduce the total power, requirements for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) but also allow for supporting more complexity. In this paper we present solutions for WSN applications, and design aspects in the context of patient monitoring. The solution presented whose primary function is to collect the vital data remotely from the various sensors in low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. It also will includes a Wi-Fi Layer in the context of hybrid networks. The application being dealt here consist of several flex sensors attached to a wearable monitoring belt, and allows for monitoring the foetal movements for a pregnant woman.

Overview of progress in Smart-Clothing project for health monitoring and sport applications

Smart Clothing is a project that combines research in textiles materials and wireless sensor and actuator networks in the context of human body monitoring with statistical methods for the data analysis and treatment. This project aims mainly to aid in the monitoring of the foetal movement in the last four weeks of pregnancy. Besides the integration of sensors in the garment there will be needed a hierarchical communication system that allows the delivery of the data collected from the garment that the pregnant is wearing to the doctor. The pregnant can be either at home or in the hospital. In the first stage of the project tests are being made using several types of sensors integrated in a belt in order to choose the one that is more reliable for the detection of foetal movement. Another sensing task is the manufacture of the electrodes for the electrocardiogram (ECG) system. At this point, the electrodes for the ECG are already made and working. The testing of the sensor for the detection of foetal movement is still being done.

Wearable Sensors for Foetal Movement Monitoring in Low Risk Pregnancies

In low risk pregnancies, the continuous monitoring of the foetal health is based on traditional protocols for counting the foetal movements felt by the mother. Although the maternal perception is a relevant characteristic for the evaluation of the foetal health, this kind of monitoring is hard to accomplish and being subjective can induce into errors due to mother’s anxiety and lack of concentration. Furthermore, the majority of foetal fatalities occur during the last weeks of low risk pregnancies. Therefore, it is important to obtain a universal electronic obstetric tracing, allowing for the identification of sudden changes in the foetus health, by continuously monitoring the foetus movements. The Smart-Clothing project aim has been the development of easy-to-wear belts with a telemedicine system for this purpose. One of the tried solutions is the Flex sensor belt system, which guarantees real-time and continuous foetal monitoring while creating effective interfaces for querying sensor data and store all the medical record (which can later be accessed by health professionals). Another developed belt has piezoelectric sensors incorporated onto it. The piezoelectric sensor belt has shown a high capacity to detect foetal movements, isolating them from external interferences.