CAREER: Towards turnkey sensor networks for the Sciences: Software tools for designing and managing networks of sensors

无线传感器网络（WSNs）为科学家观察物理环境的方式带来了革命性的希望。不幸的是，迄今为止部署的网络的经验表明，规划和管理传感器部署是一项巨大的挑战，需要计算机科学多个领域的专业知识。然而，未来的传感器网络必须由其他学科的研究人员来实现。 为了实现这一点，部署和管理传感器网络的过程应该从根本上简单。在这个项目中，我们开发了一套网络设计工具。这些工具使用特定于站点的信号传播模型以及详细的物理层无线电模型来计算丢包率。根据这些估计，这些工具可以确定在所需测量位置周围创建可靠网络所需的其他中继点和网关的位置。此外，我们开发了一个网络自我监控工具，相关的测量由各个传感器节点构建一个全球性的业务网络。来自部署的信息被反馈到网络设计工具。通过这种耦合，对网络布局进行增量调整，直到网络达到所需的性能水平。使用该项目开发的工具，传感器网络将成为可预测的和强大的工具，使科学家能够观察到以前无法达到的现象。我们正在与约翰霍普金斯大学的科学家以及高中教师合作，将该项目的成果带到更广泛的学术和教育界。

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) offer the promise of revolutionizing the way scientists observe the physical environment. Unfortunately, experience from the networks deployed to date has shown that planning and managing a sensor deployment is a great challenge requiring expertise in multiple areas of Computer Science. However, future sensor networks must be implemented by researchers in other disciplines. For this to happen, the process of deploying and managing sensor networks should be radically simpler.In this project we develop a set of network design tools. These tools use site-specific signal propagation models coupled with detailed physical layer radio models to calculate packet loss rates. Based on these estimates, the tools determine the location of additional relay points and gateways necessary to create a reliable network around the required measurement locations. Furthermore, we develop a network self-monitoring tool that correlates measurements taken by individual sensor nodes to construct a global view of the operational network. Information from the deployment is fed back to the network design tool. Through this coupling, incremental adjustments to the network layout are made until the network reaches the desired level of performance.Using the tools developed by this project, sensor networks will become predictable and robust instruments, empowering scientists to observe phenomena that were previously out of reach. We are working with scientists at Johns Hopkins University as well as high school teachers to bring the results of this project to the broader academic and educational community.