What is a wireless sensor network (WSN )? (1)

A wireless sensor network consists of nodes, gateways, and software. The Measurement Node of spatial distribution is connected to the sensor to monitor the surrounding environment. The monitored data is sent to the gateway wirelessly. The Gateway can be connected to the wired system so that data can be collected, processed, analyzed, and displayed using software. A router is a special Measurement Node. You can use it to extend long distances and increase reliability in the WSN.

WSN Architecture

You can use the ni wsn platform to flexibly create a simple and independent wireless monitoring network, or create a complete test system integrating wired and wireless measurement, in addition, you only need to use the LabVIEW development environment to access all the NI platforms.

Basic WSN Architecture

For most WSN applications, you only need to create a basic network architecture. In this architecture, the Distributed Measurement Node obtains data from the surrounding environment and then sends the measurement results to the gateway, 1.

Figure 1. In a WSN application, you can create a network architecture in which distributed measurement nodes collect data and send the results to the gateway.

You can connect the WSN Ethernet gateway to a Windows-based controller or LabVIEW real-time controller, as shown in figure 2. A Windows-based controller can be a PC or an embedded PC. You need to install LabVIEW software based on the Windows operating system. That is to say, you can easily add wireless data logging for any Windows-based system. If you connect to a LabVIEW real-time controller, such as NI CompactRIO or other programmable automation controller PAC, you can place a wireless measurement next to a wired measurement or control application. Run LabVIEW on the master controller to collect, process, analyze, and display the measurement data from the sensor network.

Figure 2. You can connect the WSN Ethernet gateway to a Windows-based controller or LabVIEW real-time controller.

Improve your WSN Architecture

The NI platform can help you further customize and enhance the WSN architecture. Due to the flexibility of Ethernet connections, you can add other devices and functions to your WSN system, whether it is enterprise-level devices such as databases and servers, or wired I/O interfaces, control systems, and third-party WSN products. The LabVIEW real-time module allows the gateway to perform embedded data recording and open communication. Meanwhile, the LabVIEW WSN module allows node customization and local decision-making at the node layer.

Figure 3. ni wsn provides hardware customization and software improvement options.

The integration of LabVIEW can help you enhance the functions of the wireless testing system. LabVIEW not only has common advanced processing and visualization functions, but also its Web Service can publish your measurement data to Web servers, such as Web servers integrated on ni 9792, you can access your WSN remotely almost anywhere. In this complete system architecture, you can use ni wsn to quickly and easily obtain data, and then publish the data to the server, then, you can use a wireless smart device such as an iPhone or laptop to easily remotely access the data.

Gateway

In the ni wsn system, the gateway is equivalent to a network coordinator responsible for managing node authentication and message buffering, and establishing a bridge between the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network and the wired Ethernet network. In the Ethernet network, you can use various NI software to collect, process, analyze, and display measurement data. You can use multiple gateways in the WSN and set each gateway to communicate in different wireless channels through software. You can connect eight WSN terminal nodes in the star topology) or up to 36 WSN Nodes in the mesh topology) to the WSN gateway. You can select two gateways for ni wsn.