Developing enabling technologies that can benefit a broad range of sectors is one of the main benefits of research into communications technologies. One technology that has triggered the interest of researchers around the world, including those at CRC, is sensor networks.

Sensor networks use a large number of ultra-small devices known as sensor nodes, to form a network without the aid of any established infrastructure. In a wireless sensor system, the individual nodes are capable of sensing their environments and either processing the information locally or sending it to one or more collection points through a wireless link.

Through their ability to monitor their surroundings and provide detailed data, sensor networks have tremendous potential to benefit a broad range of sectors. They can be used for many things, including environmental and habitat monitoring, creating industrial efficiencies, traffic control, security and military operations and even improved health care.

However, issues such as external and even internal interference can often cause problems for these networks. Also, because the sensors are normally scattered at random, they must operate in unpredictable conditions. CRC’s work on radio frequency issues related to sensor networks will help make these networks more flexible and resistant to interference. CRC is also looking at how to make the communications functions of these devices as inexpensive and energy efficient as possible, with an ultimate goal of reducing the size and power requirements for these networks.

Researchers hope that some day soon, this work to reduce the size of these devices will lead to what is called smart dust. These sensor networks would consist of extremely tiny devices, to support the deployment of a very large number of nodes within a network. The potential benefits of these tiny sensors would be extraordinary.