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The design of sensor nodes for wireless sensor networks (WSN) is challenging due to the overall requirements for low cost, low power consumption, autonomous and maintenance free operation and the continuing trends for miniaturization. From a communication point of view it is important to transmit data reliably while using the minimum amount of transceiver power. The MAI group employs an RF simulation methodology to validate and optimize the performance of its wireless designs. This methodology ensures that the RF PCB designs can be analyzed and optimized predictably, prior to building any hardware. This also helps avoid the need for extensive lab testing of prototypes and numerous and costly PCB re-spins.
When this methodology is applied to the design of a Zigbee compliant wireless sensor node for example (Figure 1), a 10 -fold increase in communications range is demonstrated for the optimized case.
Fig. 1 Measured packet loss versus distan ce(pre and post optimization)
Contact: John Buckley – john.buckley@tyndall.ie | webpage
Selected Publications:
- John Buckley, Brendan O’Flynn, Emanuel Popovici , Sean Cian O’Mathuna, “Design and Optimization of a Lumped-Element Balun for a Zigbee Wireless Sensor Node”, CIICT 2007 - 2007 China Ireland International Conference on Information and Communications Technologies, Dublin, Ireland August 28th and 29th 2007
- John Buckley, Brendan O’Flynn, Sean Cian O’Mathuna, "Optimizing the RF Performance of a Wireless Node with Lumped-Element Balun/Matching Network", 2nd Workshop on Wireless Sensor Networks Research in Ireland (WiSen 2007), June 11, 2007, Dublin, Ireland
- John Buckley, Rafael Martinez, Brendan O’Flynn, Sean Cian O’Mathuna, “An RF Design Methodology for Wireless Sensor Networks”, Information Technology & Telecommunications Conference 2006, Institute of Technology, Carlow, October 25-26, 2006. Proc pp 185-186
- O'Flynn, B., Buckley J., Laffey D., Barton J., O'Mathuna S.C., "Simulation, Design, Development and Test of Antennas for Wireless Sensor Network Systems”, Proc 30th International IMAPS Poland Conference, KraKow, Poland, 24 - 27 September 2006, pp 517-520 – Awarded Best Poster
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