18-748 Wireless Sensor Networks
12 units, Carnegie Mellon University
The use of distributed wireless sensor networks have surged in popularity in recent years with applications ranging from environmental monitoring, to people and objecttracking in both cooperative and hostile environments. This course is targeted at understanding and obtaining handson experience with the state of the art in such wireless sensor networks which are often composed using relatively inexpensive sensor nodes that have low power consumption, low processing power and bandwidth. The course will span a variety of topics ranging from radio communications, network stack, systems infrastructure including QoS support and energy management, programming paradigms, distributed algorithms and example applications. Some guest lectures may be given. Each discussionoriented lecture will be preceded by the reading of 12 papers, resulting in a rich collection of papers by the end of the semester. Early in the semester, handson exercises will be used to teach the programming of FireFly sensor nodes by using the nanoRK poweraware sensor realtime operating system RTOS and using 802.15.4 radio communications. Then, project groups of no more than 3 students will define, design, implement and test a sensor network project. Final inclass project presentations will be supplemented by a written report. A final exam may be conducted to evaluate the students understanding of the materials covered. Grading criteria will include classroom participation, course project content and report, and a final exam. Class size will be limited to 20 students or less. Handson experience with network programming, operating systems and assembly language are essential. Exceptions only with explicit permission of instructor.
Prerequisites: 15-410 or 18-349 or 18-348
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