EAGER: Developing Multi-Hop Sensorbots for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

EAGER的提案旨在通过整合多跳功能来扩展Sensorbot网络设计，范围和覆盖范围。Sensorbot由PI与ASU内部资金开发，是一种小型化，低成本，水下自主传感器平台。单个传感器机器人构成一个网络节点，能够测量和报告其所在流体的特性。在EAGER的资助下，短程通信传感器机器人将智能地连接在一起，以多跳网络方法将其覆盖范围扩展到长距离，从而克服标准水下光学通信的范围限制。如果成功，一旦部署，传感器机器人网络预计不仅可以实现连续，自主，长期的监测活动，而且可以维持网络内的双向通信。该项目的目标是显著扩展光通信深海传感器网络的空间范围和覆盖范围。更广泛的影响：传感器机器人的创建是为了测量广泛的低温热液流体特性。pH值、溶解氧、微量金属和温度传感器现已投入使用，其他几种传感器正处于早期开发阶段。目前正在开发的是荧光聚合物，它们对深海热液区扩散流区域的甲烷、硫酸盐、CO2和其他关键分析物作出反应。随着通信的改善，光学多跳网络传感器机器人将在各种海洋传感领域中有广泛而直接的应用。这一潜在的变革性建议有望为以前关于海底生物地球化学通量范围的棘手问题提供解决方案。该项目将包括一名博士后和两名本科生。

This EAGER proposal seeks funding to extend the Sensorbot network design, range and coverage by incorporating multi-hop functionality. Sensorbot developed by the PIs with internal ASU funding is a miniaturized, low-cost, underwater, autonomous sensor platform. A single Sensorbot constitutes a network node, capable of measuring and reporting the properties of the fluid in which it is located. With EAGER funding, short-range communicating Sensorbots will be intelligently link together to extend their coverage over long distances in a multi-hop networking approach, thus overcoming the range limitation of standard underwater optical communication. If successful, once deployed, the network of Sensorbots is expected to not only achieve continuous, autonomous, long term monitoring campaigns but to sustain two-way communication within the network. The goal of this project is to significantly extend the spatial range and coverage of a network of optically-communicating, deep ocean sensors.Broader Impacts:The Sensorbots were created to measure a wide range of low-temperature hydrothermal fluid properties. Sensors for pH, dissolved oxygen, trace metals, and temperature are now in operation, and several others are in the early stages of development. Currently under development are fluorescent polymers that respond to methane, sulfate, CO2, and other critical analytes in areas of diffuse flow in hydrothermal regions of the deep ocean. With improved communications, optical multi-hop networked Sensorbots will have broad and immediate application to a diverse array of ocean sensing fields. This potentially transformative proposal is expected to yield solutions to previously intractable questions about the extent of biogeochemical flux on the ocean floor. This project will include one post doc and two undergraduate students.