In-Network, Physical Adaptation of Sensor Networks

May 24, 2007
William J. Kaiser | UCLA Electrical Engineering Department

Sensor network applications have rapidly evolved as driven by new and urgent demands in environmental monitoring as well as by technology advances that enable new platforms. At the same time, sensor network systems also may take advantage of ubiquitous consumer wireless platforms. It is likely that some of the most interesting progress yet in the sensor network field will occur now as a result of this recent convergence.
This presentation will describe recent research results that combine new platforms, applications, and now new opportunities. First, beginning several years ago, a program at UCLA was developed to combine sensing, actuation, and networking, Networked Infomechanical Systems (NIMS). The NIMS vision is the development of new sensor network systems that apply in-field, autonomous, physical reconfigurability to adapt and directly address the uncertainty that confronts measurement. NIMS first accomplishments were in the area of a new actuated sensor system that provides, precise, reliable, energy-efficient, location control in sensor networks. This led to a series of new results in environmental monitoring, in particular for water resource monitoring. The capabilities of this system have expanded and its applications have become yet more urgent. NIMS are currently being applied to characterizing what is considered the most important problem in agricultural water resources in the Western US.
The NIMS program has also addressed the requirements for sensor network node systems that apply reconfiguration to optimize platform energy efficiency. This is developed to permit sensor nodes to adapt to uncertain future operation demand. This has led to the development of the Low Power Energy Aware Processing (LEAP) platform. LEAP progress has advanced and now includes two platform classes. Most importantly, LEAP has recently acquired a new capability for high speed energy monitoring that enables per-process and per-component real-time energy profiling integrated with the LEAP platform. This is expected to permit advances in energy-efficiency for embedded computing platforms dedicated to sensing objectives.
Finally, the NIMS program, with its focus on in-field reconfigurability, and new node platforms, has also developed applications in the area of biomedical monitoring where consumer electronic devices are integrated with wearable sensor networks in the new field of Telehealth. As for the previous examples, uncertainty appears in the measurement problem and this can also be addressed by new adaptation methods. The research progress in these programs and the corresponding new application opportunities will be described.

Speaker Details

Professor William J. Kaiser received a PhD in Solid State Physics from Wayne State University in 1984. From 1977 through 1986, as a member of Ford Motor Co. Research Staff, his development of automotive sensor and embedded system technology resulted in large volume commercial sensor production. At Ford, he also developed the first spectroscopies based on scanning tunneling microscopy. From 1986 through 1994, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he initiated the NASA Microinstrument program for distributed sensing. In 1994, Professor Kaiser joined the faculty of the UCLA Electrical Engineering Department. At this time, at UCLA, along with Professor Pottie, he initiated the first wireless networked microsensor programs with a vision of linking the Internet to the physical world through distributed monitoring. This continued research includes the topics of actuated sensor networks for environmental monitoring, networked embedded systems, low power integrated circuits and systems for wireless networked sensing, and biomedical embedded computing platforms. Professor Kaiser served as Electrical Engineering Department Chairman from 1996 through 2000. Dr. Kaiser has over 160 publications, 120 invited presentations, and 23 patents. He has received the Allied Signal Faculty Research Award, the Peter Mark Award of the American Vacuum Society, the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, the Arch T. Colwell Best Paper Award of the Society of Automotive Engineers, two R&D 100 Awards, and the Brian P. Copenhaver Award for Innovation in Teaching with Technology for the development of the Individualized, Interactive Instruction (3i) system.