3
A
Low Cost National Sensor Network (NSN) Using Rapidly Deployable Wireless
Technology--Innovative
Wireless Technologies, Inc., 1047 Vista Park Drive, Suite A, Forest, VA
24551-4253; 434-316-5230, www.iwtwireless.com
Mr.
Steve P. Selby, Principal Investigator,
Mr.
David P. Gerhard, Business Official, dgerhard@iwtwireless.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83684
Amount:
$749,961
Defense
against terrorist attacks by radiation dispersion devices or thermonuclear
weapons requires widely distributed radiation sensors throughout vulnerable
population centers. The sensors must
rapidly and reliably communicate detections to relevant authorities for an
effective threat response. Real-time
response networks must provide not only early pre-event threat detection, but
also, in worst case scenarios, post-event detection to facilitate emergency
management. This project will
develop a novel wireless sensor network based on Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
technology. The
self-forming and self-healing ad-hoc network will relay data between neighboring
sensors to provide links to local communications infrastructure.
Wireless transceivers in the network will provide low probability of
detection, strong multi-path fading resistance, low power consumption, and
accurate location awareness by using UWB waveforms.
In Phase I, a National Sensor Network (NSN) was analyzed to determine the
requirements of the wireless sensor network.
Based on these network requirements, the feasibility of an extended range
UWB transceiver, which achieves the required data rate and range, was
demonstrated via modeling and laboratory measurements.
In Phase II, prototypes of the UWB transceiver will be built and
commercial transceiver development will be initiated.
A prototype NSN system will also be developed that includes the UWB
transceivers, radiation sensors, ad-hoc wireless networking, and multiple
communication links to threat response monitoring applications.
Performance of the prototype NSN system will be verified in realistic
deployment environments.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as
described by awardee: This
distributed sensor approach would be a paradigm shift from previous approaches
which utilize small quantities of expensive, fixed sensors.
A widely distributed solution enables defense across cities and
high-profile locations such as airports, train stations, malls, and stadiums.
In addition, the approach would not be limited
to radiation detection alone. The
network provides a data link for nearly any sensor type (i.e., temperature,
chemical, biological), and applications in agriculture, industrial, and
environmental monitoring would be feasible.
These applications also would benefit from the improvements in security,
performance in harsh radio environments, location awareness, and battery life
attained by using Ultra-Wideband wireless technology.