An experimental wireless sensor system based on low cost, lower power wireless nodes

In this paper we present an experimental wireless sensor network system implemented in an office environment. The system is characterised by a network of sensor nodes with configurable physical layer parameters, accompanied by a set of lightweight and flexible protocols for communications among the sensor nodes. The system design is targeted at relatively small-scale wireless sensor network applications where the optimum protocol design is highly dependent on the specific application requirements. The experimental system also serves as an ideal platform for testing ideas and performing feasibility studies. The idea of using lower data rate transmissions for orphan node detection and capture is explored on this system and measurements of the radio range difference with different transmission data rates are reported. The measurement results show that the idea is feasible and effective in a realistic office environment.