Modelling and Performance analysis of a Network of Chemical Sensors with Dynamic Collaboration

TL;DR

This paper presents a mathematical model and analysis of a wireless chemical sensor network employing dynamic collaboration to optimize energy consumption while maintaining detection capabilities in complex environmental conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel protocol-based model for sensor networks with dynamic sleep-wake cycles and provides analytical tools for optimizing energy use and detection performance.

Findings

The model offers insights into network behavior and capacity planning.

Analytical tools assist in sensor network design and optimization.

The environment model captures chaotic pollutant fluctuations.

Abstract

The problem of environmental monitoring using a wireless network of chemical sensors with a limited energy supply is considered. Since the conventional chemical sensors in active mode consume vast amounts of energy, an optimisation problem arises in the context of a balance between the energy consumption and the detection capabilities of such a network. A protocol based on "dynamic sensor collaboration" is employed: in the absence of any pollutant, majority of sensors are in the sleep (passive) mode; a sensor is invoked (activated) by wake-up messages from its neighbors only when more information is required. The paper proposes a mathematical model of a network of chemical sensors using this protocol. The model provides valuable insights into the network behavior and near optimal capacity design (energy consumption against detection). An analytical model of the environment, using turbulent mixing to capture chaotic fluctuations, intermittency and non-homogeneity of the pollutant distribution, is employed in the study. A binary model of a chemical sensor is assumed (a device with threshold detection). The outcome of the study is a set of simple analytical tools for sensor network design, optimisation, and performance analysis.