Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks ─ Applications, Protocols, and Standards

The collaborative nature of industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs) brings several advantages over traditional wired industrial monitoring and control systems, including self-organization, rapid deployment, flexibility, and inherent intelligent processing. In this regard, IWSNs play a vital role in creating more reliable, efficient, and productive industrial systems, thus improving companies’ competitiveness in the marketplace. Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks: Applications, Protocols, and Standards examines the current state of the art in industrial wireless sensor networks and outlines future directions for research.

What Are the Main Challenges in Developing IWSN Systems?

Featuring contributions by researchers around the world, this book explores the software and hardware platforms, protocols, and standards that are needed to address the unique challenges posed by IWSN systems. It offers an in-depth review of emerging and already deployed IWSN applications and technologies, and outlines technical issues and design objectives. In particular, the book covers radio technologies, energy harvesting techniques, and network and resource management. It also discusses issues critical to industrial applications, such as latency, fault tolerance, synchronization, real-time constraints, network security, and cross-layer design. A chapter on standards highlights the need for specific wireless communication standards for industrial applications.

A Starting Point for Further Research

Delving into wireless sensor networks from an industrial perspective, this comprehensive work provides readers with a better understanding of the potential advantages and research challenges of IWSN applications. A contemporary reference for anyone working at the cutting edge of industrial automation, communication systems, and networks, it will inspire further exploration in this promising research area.

V. Cagri Gungor is an assistant professor and co-director of the Computer Networks and Mobile Communications Lab at the Department of Computer Engineering at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, Turkey. Before joining Bahcesehir University, he worked at Eaton Corporation’s Innovation Center in Wisconsin, USA as a project leader. Dr. Gungor has authored more than 50 papers in refereed journals and international conference proceedings, and has been serving as an editor, reviewer, and program committee member to numerous journals and conferences in these areas. He is also a co-recipient of the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics Best Paper Award in 2012.

Gerhard P. Hancke has been engaged in engineering education, research, and management for more than 37 years. He is the program coordinator for computer engineering at the University of Pretoria and has played a major role in developing this program. He is the founder and head of the Advanced Sensor Networks Group, a collaborative initiative with the Meraka Institute at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and also collaborates in research projects internationally. He has published more than 150 papers in refereed journals and international conference proceedings. Before joining academia, he was a senior engineer with the South African Atomic Energy Board.