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）有望彻底改变科学家观察物理环境的方式。不幸的是，迄今为止部署的网络经验表明，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大大简化。在这个项目中，我们开发了一套网络设计工具。这些工具使用特定站点的信号传播模型与详细的物理层无线电模型相结合来计算丢包率。基于这些估计，这些工具确定额外中继点和网关的位置，以在所需的测量位置周围创建可靠的网络。此外，我们开发了一个网络自我监测工具，该工具将单个传感器节点所采取的测量相关联，以构建操作网络的全局视图。来自部署的信息被反馈给网络设计工具。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。利用该项目开发的工具，传感器网络将成为可预测和强大的工具，使科学家能够观察到以前遥不可及的现象。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，将这个项目的成果带给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.