Decentralized Synchronization for Wireless Sensor Networks

TL;DR

This paper implements the firefly-inspired synchronization protocol on real wireless sensor network hardware, demonstrating high-precision synchronization of up to three microseconds in small networks.

Contribution

It translates the theoretical firefly synchronization protocol into a practical implementation on MICAz motes, addressing hardware delays and validating its effectiveness.

Findings

Achieved synchronization precision up to three microseconds

Successfully adapted the protocol for real hardware constraints

Validated the protocol's robustness in small network setups

Abstract

Due to their heavy restrictions on the hardware side, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) require specially adapted synchronization protocols to maximize measurement precision and minimize computation efforts and energy costs. A promising approach is given by the 'Firefly Protocol'. Inspired by the behavior of fireflies it is intrinsically robust, specific to the wireless broadcast nature of WSNs and promises high precision. So far only theoretically evaluated, this thesis implements the 'Firefly Protocol' on a system of MICAz Berkeley motes using TinyOS 2.x. In order to implement the theoretical framework on actual hardware, several adaptations were made to compensate hardware delays. Although Berkeley motes have the advantage of being readily available and highly flexible, they bear many delay sources which have to be addressed. In small networks, the protocol was found to deliver precisions up to three microseconds over one hop.