Nomadic sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have been investigated in their various forms over the last years as they are considered to be a major step towards pervasive computing. Nevertheless, except for military applications WSNs can be found only as 'proof of concept'. Within this paper we analyze the current situation and explain what we call the dilemma of WSN. We show the consequences of the various choices for the sensor node design and propose nomadic sensor networks as a way to introduce sensors into our everyday life in an incremental and cost-effective way. We show the general feasibility of this concept by presenting preliminary analytic and simulation based results, using a simple parking scenario for demonstration purposes.