CAREER: Spatial Models and Algorithms for Sensor Networks

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

PROPOSAL: 0347400 INSTITUTION: U of Texas Austin PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Shakkottai, Sanjay TITLE: CAREER: Spatial Models and Algorithms for Sensor Networks From everyday tasks like buying groceries, to tracking chemical pollutants through a riverbed, sensor network technology will transform the way we understand and interact with the physical world. Such networks will support communications over thousands of sensor nodes -- communications of a scale not seen in today's networks. Motivated by the physics of gases, where the behavior of individual atoms are inconsequential in order to understand macroscopic behavior such as pressure or temperature, this CAREER project develops a research program based on a continuum viewpoint of a network of sensor nodes -- where individual node properties aggregate, and manifest only as random fluctuations in an underlying continuous medium. By introducing techniques from statistical physics, this proposal develops a framework for sensor network algorithm design and architecture. This is applied to obtain basic insights, and develop algorithms for sensor network communications -- from network protocol primitives such as querying, flooding and route setup, to data flow path optimization, to the interactions of multiple data flows over wireless media, and their impact on topological properties. Research results impact design methodology for a wide range of sensor network applications, and are incorporated into the undergraduate and graduate curricula at UT Austin. The results are easily accessible to industry through the Wireless Networking and Communications Group industrial affiliates program at UT Austin. A network testbed that integrates actual network hardware with analytical network models has been prototyped to measure and validate sensor network algorithms, and furthers outreach efforts to high school students.