ITR: Collaborative Research: Efficient Resource Management for Controlled-Mobility Wireless Networks

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

Today's embedded computers are increasingly mobile and ubiquitous, are capable of interacting with the environment, and can communicate with one another over possibly vast and pervasive networks. While most of the wireless networks are not expected to be capable of controlling their own motion, new technological possibilities are emerging to provide small embedded devices with the means to propel themselves, with an energy expenditure that is comparable to the energy budget of communication and computation. A Controlled-Mobility Wireless Network (CMWN) is defined as a network of embedded devices endowed with computation, communication and motion capabilities. The purpose of this project is the development of a new conceptual framework for the design, development and operation of efficient and reliable networks with such characteristics. The overall objectives of the basic research proposed in this project are: 1. The development of a conceptually sound, consistent and complete framework for the analysis of the interactions between competing computation, communication, and motion control requirements, arising in the design of CMWNs. 2. The design, analysis, and performance characterization of distributed algorithms and communication protocols for provably efficient and adaptive CMWNs. 3. The specification, implementation and verification of software, middleware and networking services for the deployment of representative CMWNs.