An Environment for Controlled Experiments with Indoor Sensor Networks

In little less than a decade, the concept of distributed wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has evolved from relative obscurity to absolute top-seller in the academic research world. What makes the concept especially enticing from a research perspective is its distributed redundant ad-hoc nature, which is radically different from what is encountered in the traditional computation and communication worlds. As a result, we have seen an explosive research growth in the fields of ultra-low power computation and communication nodes, ad-hoc media access and networking, distributed locationing and synchronization, etc. Further, universities have engaged in the construction of large test-beds and innovative application studies. Yet, with all this investment WSNs struggle to make it into actual industrial deployment. Major questions remain regarding robustness, reliability, deployment, diagnostics, security (just to mention a few). The speaker explores what it will take for WSNs to become a truly successful business undertaking and to grow beyond the meagre 1-5 billion-dollar business it is slotted for today.