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An autonomous wireless sensor network deployment system using mobile robots for human existence detection in case of disasters

This paper presents a novel approach of using autonomous mobile robots to deploy a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) for human existence detection in case of disasters. During WSN deployment, mobile robots perform cooperative Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and communicate over the WSN. The proposed system has important advantages over a human-assisted system, including autonomous deployment, aggregated intelligence, and flexibility. However, the realization of these envisaged gains depends on communication and coordination capabilities of the system. In this study, the advantages of an autonomous WSN deployment system by mobile robots, design principles and implementation related issues have been explained. In addition, simulation studies have been performed to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach considering WSN coverage, coordination strategies, and SLAM perspectives. Overall, this paper addresses the advantages of using multiple robots for WSN deployment in terms of cooperative exploration and cooperative SLAM, the benefit of simultaneously deploying wireless sensor nodes during the exploration of an unknown deployment zone and the use of WSN-based communication as an alternative communication method during exploration.

Review Article: Power line communication technologies for smart grid applications: A review of advances and challenges

This paper investigates the use of Power Line Communication (PLC) for Smart Grid (SG) applications. Firstly, an overview is done to define the characteristics of PLC and PLC-based SG applications are addressed to define the compatibility of PLC. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of PLC for SG applications are analyzed to improve the issues related to PLC. Due to the past standardization problem of PLC, new protocols and standards proposed for PLC are reviewed to see possible solutions toward its standardization. In addition, both completed and ongoing developments in the PLC technologies and their worldwide implementations are reviewed in this study. Finally, open research issues and future works are given.

Wireless Sensor Networks for Smart Grid Applications: A Case Study on Link Reliability and Node Lifetime Evaluations in Power Distribution Systems:

Recent advances in embedded systems and wireless sensor networks (WSNs) made it possible to realize low-cost monitoring and automation systems for smart grids. This paper presents opportunities and design challenges of WSNs for smart grid applications. WSN-based smart grid applications have been introduced, and some WSN standards and communication protocols have been discussed for smart grid applications. Importantly, node lifetime and link reliability in wireless sensor networking for smart grid applications have been evaluated through case studies based on field tests in electric power system environments.

Unmanned aerial vehicle-aided communications system for disaster recovery

After natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados and fires, providing emergency management schemes which mainly rely on communications systems is essential for rescue operations. To establish an emergency communications system during unforeseen events such as natural disasters, we propose the use of a team of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The proposed system is a post-disaster solution and can be used whenever and wherever required. Each UAV in the team has an onboard computer which runs three main subsystems responsible for end-to-end communication, formation control and autonomous navigation. The onboard computer and the low-level controller of the UAV cooperate to accomplish the objective of providing local communications infrastructure. In this study, the subsystems running on each UAV are explained and evaluated by simulation studies and field tests using an autonomous helicopter. While the simulation studies address the efficiency of the end-to-end communication subsystem, the field tests evaluate the accuracy of the navigation subsystem. The results of the field tests and the simulation studies show that the proposed system can be successfully used in case of disasters to establish an emergency communications system.

Evaluations of different Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms with multiple autonomous robots have received considerable attention in recent years. In general, SLAM algorithms use odometry information and measurements from exteroceptive sensors of robots. The accuracy of these measurements and the performance of the corresponding SLAM algorithm directly affect the overall success of the system. This paper presents comparative performance evaluations of three Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms using Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), Compressed Extended Kalman Filter (CEKF) and Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). Specifically, it focuses on their SLAM performances and processing time requirements. To show the effect of CPU power on the processing time of SLAM algorithms, two notebooks and a netbook with different specifications have been used. Comparative simulation results show that processing time requirements are consistent with the computational complexities of SLAM algorithms. The results we obtained are consistent with the CPU power tests of independent organizations and show that higher processing power decreases processing time accordingly. The results also show that CEKF is more suitable for outdoor SLAM applications where there are a lot of natural and artificial features.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Aided Wireless Sensor Network Deployment System for Post-disaster Monitoring

This paper presents design strategies of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deploy wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for post-disaster monitoring. Natural disasters are unforeseeable events which cannot be prevented. But some recovery procedures can be followed to minimize their effects. Post-disaster monitoring is important to estimate the effects of disasters, which in turn is used to determine recovery procedures to be followed. We propose an UAV-aided unattended WSN deployment system. The system is a post-disaster solution which can be used anywhere required. In this study, we mainly evaluate the efficiency of localization and navigation performance of the proposed system. Our simulation studies with an AirRobot quadrotor helicopter in Unified System for Automation and Robot Simulation (USARSim) simulation platform show that UAVs can be used to deploy WSNs after disasters to monitor environmental conditions. Future work includes implementing the system using a hexarotor helicopter.

Comparison of QoS-aware single-path vs. multi-path routing protocols for image transmission in wireless multimedia sensor networks

Abstract Wireless multimedia sensor network (WMSN) applications require strong multimedia communication competence. Therefore, in WMSN applications, it is necessary to use specific mechanisms in order to handle multimedia communication challenges and address desired energy efficiency and reliability goals. Nevertheless, the existing communication protocols are not suitable for the communication challenges and the desired goals. In this respect, specific mechanisms for prioritization, link-quality estimation and multi-path selection can be employed by quality of service (QoS)-aware routing protocols to meet the reliability and delay requirements of WMSN applications. In this study a novel approach is proposed to set different reliability values for image packets for image transmission in WMSNs. Using this prioritization, important parts of an image are assigned high priority and take priority during data transmission. In order to evaluate the proposed approach, the performance of single-path and multi-path QoS-aware routing protocols has been investigated for WMSN-based image transmission applications. Specifically, comparative performance analysis of single-path routing and multi-path routing in image transmission have been conducted in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), average delay, reachability, and control overhead. As proven by the results of the performance evaluations in this study, multi-path routing is better than single-path routing in terms of reliability. On the other hand, at high traffic loads, multi-path routing may perform worse in terms of delay due to its associated overhead.

EDHRP: Energy efficient event driven hybrid routing protocol for densely deployed wireless sensor networks

Abstract Efficient management of energy resources is a challenging research area in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Recent studies have revealed that clustering is an efficient topology control approach for organizing a network into a connected hierarchy which balances the traffic load of the sensor nodes and improves the overall scalability and the lifetime of WSNs. Inspired by the advantages of clustering techniques, we have three main contributions in this paper. First, we propose an energy efficient cluster formation algorithm called Active Node Cluster Formation (ANCF). The core aim to propose ANCF algorithm is to distribute heavy data traffic and high energy consumption load evenly in the network by offering unequal size of clusters in the network. The developed scheme appoints each cluster head (CH) near to the sink and sensing event while the remaining set of the cluster heads (CHs) are appointed in the middle of each cluster to achieve the highest level of energy efficiency in dense deployment. Second, we propose a lightweight sensing mechanism called Active Node Sensing Algorithm (ANSA). The key aim to propose the ANSA algorithm is to avoid high sensing overlapping data redundancy by appointing a set of active nodes in each cluster with satisfy coverage near to the event. Third, we propose an Active Node Routing Algorithm (ANRA) to address complex inter and intra cluster routing issues in highly dense deployment based on the node dominating values. Extensive experimental studies conducted through network simulator NCTUNs 6.0 reveal that our proposed scheme outperforms existing routing techniques in terms of energy efficiency, end-to-end delay and data redundancy, congestion management and setup robustness.

Continuous Monitoring of Water Quality Using Portable and Low-Cost Approaches

Water quality refers to the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water, and it is a measure of the condition of water relative to any human need or purpose. A particular problem with measuring the condition of water quality at drinking water reservoirs is the requirement of collecting a large number of samples. To handle this problem, we focus on the practical use of two different portable and low-cost approaches for continuous monitoring of water quality: miniboats loaded with sondes with probes and wireless sensor network- (WSN-) based monitoring system. These approaches bring several advantages over traditional monitoring systems in terms of cost, portability, and applicability. Our simulation studies show that these systems can be used to monitor water quality at drinking water reservoirs such as dams and holding ponds. Field tests to prove the effectiveness of the proposed systems are in progress.

Design strategies of unmanned aerial vehicle-aided communication for disaster recovery

This paper presents a novel approach of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UA Vs) to establish a communication infrastructure in case of disasters. Due to the collapse of buildings, power systems, and antennas, the collapse of communication infrastructure is the usual effect of disasters. In this study, we propose an emergency communications system established by unmanned aerial vehicles (UA Vs). The system is a post-disaster solution; hence, it can be used anywhere required. In this study, first we briefly explain the details of the system in three aspects: end-to-end communication, localization and navigation, and coordination Then, we evaluate the efficiency of the localization and navigation subsystem. Our simulation studies with Air Robot quadrotor helicopters in Unified System for Automation and Robot Simulation (USARSim) simulation environment show that UAV-aided communications system can be used in case of disasters to establish an emergency communications infrastructure in terms of localization and navigation.