Sensor Technology
Wireless Sensor Platform – Overview
A wireless sensor or ‘node’ is a micro electromechanical (MEM) hardware platform with processing and wireless communication capability. Sensors connect directly to the node processor radio boards. This combination gives the node the ability to sense, compute and communicate.
The key hardware inside the unit is the Shimmer main-board which has wireless communication and processing capability. Integrated onto the main-board are an accelerometer, and a tilt / vibration sensor giving the unit some primary sensing functions, capturing data in relation to rotation and movement. Further sensors can be connected to the main board (referred to as daughter cards) such as a dual access gyroscope, ECG / EMG monitor, or a Passive Infra Red sensor to broaden the range of events Shimmer can capture.
The information from the sensors is gathered in a raw or semi-processed format. This information is then either stored locally on a micro SD card, or can be transmitted via Bluetooth or 802.15.4 radio (a low powered means for wireless communication). The information can be received to a computer, mobile phone, or server of user’s choice.
Wireless Sensors Today
Sensor networks can be utilised for human health monitoring where wireless sensors, strategically placed on the human body (known as Wireless Body Networks – WBN), can monitor various vital signs, providing real-time feedback to the user and medical personnel. Wireless sensors can also be deployed into a patient’s home environment to provide real time and extended monitoring of activity and well-being.
WSN are also often referred to Ubiquitous Sensing Networks (USN) where omnipresent wireless sensors interact constantly with the real world. Wireless sensors are forecasted to see explosive growth in the coming years and become integrated into our social fabric and everyday activities such as our homes, cars, office settings, factories, hospitals, and on our person.
Shimmer provides the platform to be at the leading edge of this technology. Addressing issues of size, weight, power consumption, and communication Shimmer is a unique offering that has an extremely open platform allowing for integration and interaction with existing technologies to fastrack product development.