Resource Aggregation in Smart Sensor Systems
Abstract
The authors describe a network of diverse sensors and methods for capability discovery and resource aggregation. Camera nodes utilize the distributed sensors for selective image acquisition and processing. Compared to standalone cameras, these networked sensors consume less power and can be adjusted to heterogeneous and situation-specific resolutions by spreading them thinner or denser. Most importantly, however, diverse sensors can exploit a wider range of the electromagnetic spectrum. In field tests, the system behaved well above the authors' expectations both in terms of detecting all events of interest as well as capturing images of interest. The authors have developed a sensor network for remote area surveillance of both vehicles and people. This sensor network uses a combination of several different types of sensors and networking technologies, including PIR (passive infrared), magnetometers and imaging devices as sensors, and satellite phones for communication. The system employs Crossbow's MSP-SYS410CA platform for implementing distributed object detection and motion estimation, and the TinyOS operating system for the sensor nodes. Sensor data is collected at an aggregator node which is equipped with a digital photo camera, a satellite phone connection, and a WiFi connection. Upon detecting an interesting object/event, the network triggers the camera to capture a number of photos which are uploaded via satellite phone to a remote control center. They are extending and improving their system in a number of ways. One extension links the ground-based sensor surveillance system with various Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These UAVs are equipped with video cameras and transmit live video to a ground station. They also are implementing video processing methods on each network's computational unit in the style of smart cameras.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA484258
Entities
People
- Gurminder Singh
- Mathias Kolsch
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School