Generic Sensor Network Architecture for Wireless Automation

Keywords: wireless sensor networks, monitoring, control, wireless automation, condition monitoring

Wireless techniques are being used in several process monitoring applications. In addition, there are commercially available measurement and field devices for wireless automation, which are becoming more popular thanks to the progress in standardization (WirelessHART, ISA100.11a). Wireless automation has a lot of potential also in fast response time applications, which are not supported by the current standards. In these applications, significant amount of tailoring of software and hardware of the wireless sensor and actuator network is nowadays needed. This takes a lot of time and resources. In the GENSEN project, generic sensor network architecture is developed for applications of wireless automation. The objective is to raise the level of genericity of the platform such that prototyping and implementation of different applications is fast and easy. The research work covers integration of the hardware (sensors, radios, interfaces), protocol and configuration tool development, and system validation via several case studies. In addition, the commercialization of the prototypes in the case studies is examined. The research results shorten the development cycle of wireless automation applications and hence promote the use of wireless techniques in industries. New business opportunities will occur based on commercialization of the prototypes

The main objectives of the project are the development of

• generic sensor networking platform (HW & SW) for wireless automation
• TSMP-Lite protocol stack
• system validation and testing through case studies
• evaluation of the commercialization capabilities.

Besides the participating companies, the project research consortia consists of partners from Aalto University, University of Vaasa and Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The units are

• Department of Automation and Systems Technology, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, Prof. Heikki Koivo
• Department of Communications and Networking, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, Prof. Riku Jäntti
• Department of Computer Science, University of Vaasa (UV), lecturer Reino Virrankoski
• Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, University of Vaasa (UV), Prof. Erkki Antila
• Department of Production, University of Vaasa (UV), Simo Keskinen
• School of Technology, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Petteri Mäkelä and Heikki Palomäki
• School of Agriculture and Forestry, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Antti Pasila and Jussi Esala

The research is financed by Tekes and participating companies. The project belongs to VAMOS technology program.

• Keywords: sensor and actuator network, radio resource management, data fusion, wireless automation, WirelessHART, ISA100.11a
• Duration: 2009-2010
• Research area: Wireless Automation, Process Control
• Related projects: WiSA, WISM, ISMO

Contact persons in Aalto

• Heikki Koivo (person in charge, Aalto Univ. / AS)
• Riku Jäntti (Aalto Univ. / Comnet)
• Lasse Eriksson (project manager)

Publications (AS dept. only)

• Mikael Björkbom, Lasse M Eriksson and Joni Silvo,
  "Technologies and methodologies enabling reliable real-time wireless automation,"
  in New Trends in Technologies: Control, Management, Computational Intelligence and Network Systems, Meng Joo Er (ed.), Rijeka, Croatia: Sciyo, 2011, pp. 85-112.
  Electronic publication
• Mikael Björkbom, Riku Jäntti and Heikki Koivo,
  "Real-time wireless sensor systems for monitoring and control,"
  in Automaatio XIX SEMINAARI 15.-16.3.2011, Arto Visala (toim.), Helsinki: Suomen Automaatioseura ry, 2011, 6 pp.
  Electronic publication
• Maurizio Bocca,
  Application-driven data processing in wireless sensor networks,
  Helsinki, Finland: Aalto University, 2011. (Aalto University publication series, DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS, 93/2011).
  Electronic publication
• Maurizio Bocca, Ossi Kaltiokallio and Joni Silvo,
  "Real-time and reliable wireless sensor networks for smart wireless automation applications,"
  in Automaatio XIX SEMINAARI 15.-16.3.2011, Arto Visala (toim.), Helsinki: Suomen Automaatioseura ry, 2011, 6 pp.
  Electronic publication
• Maurizio Bocca and Heikki Koivo,
  "Kick-off: an initialization procedure for convergecast in wireless sensor networks,"
  in Proceedings of Mosharaka International Conference on Communications and Electronic Systems, Jaser Mahasneh (ed.), Dubai, UAE: Mosharaka for Researches and Studies, 2011, 6 pp.
• Lasse Eriksson, Joni Silvo, Mikael Björkbom, Jari Nieminen and Riku Jäntti,
  "Kohti reaaliaikaista ja luotettavaa langatonta automaatiota,"
  Automaatioväylä, Vol. 3, s. 24-27, 2011.
  Electronic publication