An antenna for wireless sensor applications

In recent years there has been a great deal of activity in the area of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) since this concept represents a hugely promising technology for both the present and the future. Motes, the devices which support the WSN concept, are now small enough for application in many industrial areas such as those concerning inventory control. However, as the physical size of the motes has been reduced, many vital peripheral components have not seen similar reductions. One such component is the antenna which is of paramount importance for communication between motes. Industry often sees the simple external monopole antenna supplied with motes as a hindrance to their deployment. This work presents the design and implementation of a novel antenna which could be integrated into future mote designs in order to satisfy industrial concerns, whilst also offering an increase in energy efficiency over monopole designs.