GSM Wireless Sensor Node Prototype for Infield Environmental Parameters Acquisition

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are an important part of the general framework known as the Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors collect data from any kind of environment: indoor or outdoor, terrestrial, or aerial (even space), commercial, industrial, agricultural, or domestic. As in any other type of network, communication is an essential element of the system. In the process of network design, a particular interest is shown in the resources available in order to ensure communication functionality. In agriculture, wireless communication is usually considered the most suitable for this task due to environmental conditions and communication distance. For outdoor applications, GSM protocol permits flawless communications over those large areas where the service coverage is available. The main advantage of the GSM is the coverage around the world, while the drawback is the high current consumption that has a direct impact on the system lifetime powered with batteries. In this paper, a GSM wireless sensor node (GWSn) is proposed for infield data acquisition. Tests were performed in the laboratory to analyze the current consumption and infield to observe the feasibility of the proposed prototype. To ensure an increased lifetime considering the current consumption acquired, the GWSn was equipped with a photovoltaic panel.