Development of low power local network on wired and wireless hybrid sensor network

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11869
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 60060:Information network-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Yamawaki Akira 九州工業大学, 大学院工学研究院, 准教授 (10325574)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: センサネットワーク / 省電力 / メンテナンスレス / スケーラブル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The spread of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) requires battery-powered or battery-less sensor nodes that can be installed anywhere without the need for power wiring. However, the former requires battery replacement and charging, while the latter requires the installation cost and maintenance burden of the energy harvester. In this study, we propose an ultra-low-power, maintenance-free WSN to solve these problems. The proposed WSN has battery-less, zero-power standby sensor nodes powered by capacitors. These are then grouped together, with each group equipped with one energy harvester and wireless module. We have completed a prototype and confirmed that it can operate correctly for a sufficient period of time using solar power generation and a capacitor. Demonstration experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed sensor group. Therefore, the proposed sensor network can contribute to the realization of a better social life.

Free Research Field

ディジタル回路システム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

提案WSNは無線と環境発電を親ノードのみに持たせた有線-無線の階層構造をなす新しいWSNアーキテクチャである．また，従来WSNでは環境発電機の出力安定化に使用されてきたコンデンサをセンサグループの動作電源とし，グループ内の電力制御は分散コンデンサに充電された電力をきめ細かく無駄なく使用する新しい方式である．グループ内ネットワークは，配線数固定の省電力な有線によるスケーラブル接続網であり，任意の場所に任意個のノードを持つWSNを容易に構築できる．結果，バッテリ不要で，環境発電機や無線機能のコストやそれらのメンテナンスも大幅に削減でき，設置も容易な超省電力・メンテナンスレスWSNが実現される．