Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for restoring connectivity among partitioned segments in a partitioned wireless sensor and actor network (WSAN). The method includes placing batches of mobile nodes at locations surrounding mobile nodes previously placed within a damaged area of the partitioned WSAN, spreading the batches of mobile nodes, determining whether connectivity among the partitioned segments has been restored, and repeating placing batches of mobile nodes, spreading the patches of mobile nodes, and determining whether connectivity among the partitioned segments has been restored when connectivity among the partitioned segments is not restored. The method is based on a distributed dropping approach which introduces minimal disruption to previously deployed mobile nodes, and decreases total travelled distance a mobile node might move compared with a traditional central dropping approach.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a data collection routing protocol include the steps of perceiving a broadcast beacon message from an i-th sensor node located at an i-th sensor level by one or more sensor nodes at one or more other sensor levels of a divided WSN, wherein the i-th sensor level does not include a first sensor level of a sink sensor node; resetting the respective sensor level of the one or more sensor nodes to an (i+1)th sensor level; attempting to connect the i-th sensor node at the i-th sensor level to another sensor node located at an (i?1)th sensor level; and connecting the i-th sensor node to a parent sensor node at the i-th sensor level when certain conditions are met. These conditions are determined and analyzed locally at each sensor node.

Abstract: A Two-hop Cooperative Virtual Force Robot Deployment (Two-hop COVER) technique is described. An improved Virtual force VF approach considers the mission requirements such as the number of required robots in each locality. The Two-hop COVER expedites the deployment process by establishing a cooperative relation between robots and neighboring landmarks. Two-hop cooperation is utilized as well to reduce the time and distance needed to satisfy mission requirements. In order to reduce randomness and guide remaining robots throughout the area till they find an unsatisfied landmark, each robot utilizes its history to visit only the locations that it has not visited before. Moreover, each robot will communicate with its neighboring robots and landmarks to use their current positions and history to guide its movements.

Abstract: A WSN has multiple sensor nodes, a bi-directional gateway sensor node, and a server. The WSN also includes circuitry configured to process a route request message from an origination sensor node to a destination sensor node. A message packet of each of the sensor nodes includes a minimum energy field, a minimum energy harvesting rate field, and a sum of energy field. The circuitry is also configured to determine a new delivery route based upon comparing a minimum energy and a minimum energy harvesting rate of an instant sensor node with a minimum energy and a minimum energy harvesting rate contained in the message packet, and select a lower minimum energy and a lower minimum energy harvesting rate from the instant sensor node or the message packet. The circuitry is also configured to broadcast the lower minimum energy and the lower minimum energy harvesting rate throughout the WSN.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a WSN having sensor nodes that are configured with electronic circuitry for interfacing with one or more associated sensors. The WSN also includes a gateway sensor node configured to receive sensor data from and forward instructions to the one or more sensor nodes, and a server configured to control the WSN in combination with the gateway sensor node. The WSN also includes circuitry configured to recognize a link break within a data communication route of the WSN via a routing protocol, and buffer incoming packets from a source node. The circuitry is also configured to propagate a RERR message of the link break to the plurality of sensor nodes, and build a bypass route around the link break of the data communication route towards a destination node. The circuitry is also configured to send the buffered incoming packets to the destination node through the bypass route.

Abstract: The method of routing for wireless ad hoc and sensor networks is a routing protocol that uses a greedy approach, selecting the best route having the maximum remaining energy above a pre-defined threshold limit. The method of routing for wireless ad hoc and sensor networks is an energy efficient routing protocol, in that the routing path is selected to maximize the lifetime of an individual source-destination pair by selecting a route between them that is based on the energy levels of neighboring nodes, without requiring an energy-intensive network flooding approach. The routing path between a source node and a destination node is selected by choosing, at each node, a neighboring node that has the greatest remaining energy level.

Abstract: A method and cooperative system for deploying a mobile robot of a plurality of mobile robots with a plurality of fixed sensors. The method includes broadcasting a position-request message including a request for a position and a demand for mobile robots, receiving the position-request message, and transmitting a position-demand message. The method also includes receiving position-demand messages from corresponding fixed sensors, determining a distance to the corresponding fixed sensors, storing information for the corresponding fixed sensor in a fixed sensor list when the distance to the corresponding fixed sensor is less than a predetermined distance, determining a closest fixed sensor, transmitting an association request message to the closest fixed sensor, receiving the association request message, and transmitting a confirmation message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is not equal to zero or a rejection message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is equal to zero.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a WSN having sensor nodes that are configured with electronic circuitry for interfacing with one or more associated sensors. The WSN also includes a gateway sensor node configured to receive sensor data from and forward instructions to the one or more sensor nodes, and a server configured to control the WSN in combination with the gateway sensor node. The WSN also includes circuitry configured to recognize a link break within a data communication route of the WSN via a routing protocol, and buffer incoming packets from a source node. The circuitry is also configured to propagate a RERR message of the link break to the plurality of sensor nodes, and build a bypass route around the link break of the data communication route towards a destination node. The circuitry is also configured to send the buffered incoming packets to the destination node through the bypass route.

Abstract: A method and cooperative system for deploying a mobile robot of a plurality of mobile robots with a plurality of fixed sensors. The method includes broadcasting a position-request message including a request for a position and a demand for mobile robots, receiving the position-request message, and transmitting a position-demand message. The method also includes receiving position-demand messages from corresponding fixed sensors, determining a distance to the corresponding fixed sensors, storing information for the corresponding fixed sensor in a fixed sensor list when the distance to the corresponding fixed sensor is less than a predetermined distance, determining a closest fixed sensor, transmitting an association request message to the closest fixed sensor, receiving the association request message, and transmitting a confirmation message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is not equal to zero or a rejection message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is equal to zero.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of deploying sensors by a robot in a geographical region. The robot receives a first instruction including information corresponding to the geographical region and a second instruction indicating one of a first manner and a second manner of deploying sensors. The robot computes a path to traverse the region in a plurality of steps, each step of the plurality of steps having a predetermined magnitude. The robot traverses until a stopping condition is satisfied. The robot deploys sensors at each traversed step size and further receives from each deployed sensor, information indicating absence of sensors in a neighboring area of the deployed sensor. Additionally, the robot repeats the traversing and deploying of sensors in the neighboring area to provide full coverage.

Abstract: A WSN has multiple sensor nodes, a bi-directional gateway sensor node, and a server. The WSN also includes circuitry configured to process a route request message from an origination sensor node to a destination sensor node. A message packet of each of the sensor nodes includes a minimum energy field, a minimum energy harvesting rate field, and a sum of energy field. The circuitry is also configured to determine a new delivery route based upon comparing a minimum energy and a minimum energy harvesting rate of an instant sensor node with a minimum energy and a minimum energy harvesting rate contained in the message packet, and select a lower minimum energy and a lower minimum energy harvesting rate from the instant sensor node or the message packet. The circuitry is also configured to broadcast the lower minimum energy and the lower minimum energy harvesting rate throughout the WSN.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a WSN having sensor nodes that are configured with electronic circuitry for interfacing with one or more associated sensors. The WSN also includes a gateway sensor node configured to receive sensor data from and forward instructions to the one or more sensor nodes, and a server configured to control the WSN in combination with the gateway sensor node. The WSN also includes circuitry configured to recognize a link break within a data communication route of the WSN via a routing protocol, and buffer incoming packets from a source node. The circuitry is also configured to propagate a RERR message of the link break to the plurality of sensor nodes, and build a bypass route around the link break of the data communication route towards a destination node. The circuitry is also configured to send the buffered incoming packets to the destination node through the bypass route.

Abstract: A method and cooperative system for deploying a mobile robot of a plurality of mobile robots with a plurality of fixed sensors. The method includes broadcasting a position-request message including a request for a position and a demand for mobile robots, receiving the position-request message, and transmitting a position-demand message. The method also includes receiving position-demand messages from corresponding fixed sensors, determining a distance to the corresponding fixed sensors, storing information for the corresponding fixed sensor in a fixed sensor list when the distance to the corresponding fixed sensor is less than a predetermined distance, determining a closest fixed sensor, transmitting an association request message to the closest fixed sensor, receiving the association request message, and transmitting a confirmation message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is not equal to zero or a rejection message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is equal to zero.

Abstract: The method of routing for wireless ad hoc and sensor networks is a routing protocol that uses a greedy approach, selecting the best route having the maximum remaining energy above a pre-defined threshold limit. The method of routing for wireless ad hoc and sensor networks is an energy efficient routing protocol, in that the routing path is selected to maximize the lifetime of an individual source-destination pair by selecting a route between them that is based on the energy levels of neighboring nodes, without requiring an energy-intensive network flooding approach. The routing path between a source node and a destination node is selected by choosing, at each node, a neighboring node that has the greatest remaining energy level.

Abstract: A WSN has multiple sensor nodes, a bi-directional gateway sensor node, and a server. The WSN also includes circuitry configured to process a route request message from an origination sensor node to a destination sensor node. A message packet of each of the sensor nodes includes a minimum energy field, a minimum energy harvesting rate field, and a sum of energy field. The circuitry is also configured to determine a new delivery route based upon comparing a minimum energy and a minimum energy harvesting rate of an instant sensor node with a minimum energy and a minimum energy harvesting rate contained in the message packet, and select a lower minimum energy and a lower minimum energy harvesting rate from the instant sensor node or the message packet. The circuitry is also configured to broadcast the lower minimum energy and the lower minimum energy harvesting rate throughout the WSN.

Abstract: A method for evaluating performance of a sensor network. The method includes selecting, a sensor distribution pattern for a geographical region and determining a location for a base station. A plurality of sensor clusters are generated, each sensor cluster being formed by one of a first and second grouping mechanism. Further, the method allocates, for each sensor a time-slot within a time-frame to transmit a data packet from the sensor to the base station, and evaluates the performance of the first grouping mechanism and the second grouping mechanism for the selected sensor distribution pattern and base station location, by computing at least a ratio of delivered data packets to the base station to a total energy consumption, and a first delay and a second delay incurred by each data packet.

Abstract: The clamp-on ultrasonic fluid flow meter system is an apparatus that includes structures that filter out a pipe structure-borne ultrasonic wave component. The clamp-on ultrasonic fluid flow meter system provides pipes that are modified to rely on Bragg resonance to attenuate the pipe structure-borne ultrasonic wave component. In a first embodiment, the fluid flow pipe is modified with corrugations so that the periodicity of the corrugations defines a pipe wall corrugation wavelength that is one-half the wavelength of the structure-borne ultrasonic wave component, satisfying Bragg's condition and preventing propagation of structure-borne noise that might interfere with the ultrasonic fluid flow meter. In a second embodiment, a pipe clad material having periodic corrugations as described above is adhesively or magnetically attached to the fluid flow pipe. In a third embodiment, alternating materials at a periodic rate satisfying Bragg's condition are attached to the exterior of the fluid flow pipe.

Abstract: The synchronization-free pipeline leak detection system includes a plurality of acoustic sensor nodes positioned equidistantly and linearly against an external surface of a wall of a pipeline. Each of the acoustic sensor nodes receives an acoustic signal generated by a leak in the wall of the pipeline, which is transmitted through fluid flowing through the pipeline. Each of the acoustic sensor nodes measures an acoustic received signal strength associated with the acoustic signal and transmits a signal representative of the respective acoustic received signal strength to the immediately adjacent acoustic sensor nodes if the respective acoustic received signal strength is greater than a threshold signal strength value. From the transmitted acoustic received signal strengths between sensor nodes, the sensor node closest to the leak can be determined. From known values stored in each sensor node, the position of the leak can be calculated and transmitted in an alert signal.

Abstract: Optical methods and systems for the detection of leakages in fluid transporting pipelines. An exemplary system comprises at least one pair of light transmitter and light sensor positioned at the pipe wall itself. The discontinuity of fluid flow by bubbles and entrained particles resulting from a crack on the pipe wall is reflected in the light rays received by the light sensor. The discontinuity is recorded and converted into an optical signal that is transmitted wirelessly to a processing unit at a receiving station.

Abstract: The WSAN simultaneous failures recovery method ranks each node based on the number of hops to a pre-designated root node in the network. The method identifies some nodes as cluster heads based on the number of their children in the recovery tree. The method assigns a recovery weight and a nearby cluster node to each node. Nearby cluster nodes serve as gateways to other nodes that belong to that cluster. The recovery weight is used to decide which node is better to move in order to achieve lower recovery cost. The recovery method uses the same on-going set of actors to restore connectivity. Simulation results have demonstrated that the recovery method can achieve low recovery cost per failed node in small and large networks. The results have also shown that clustering leads to lower recovery cost if the sub-network needs to re-establish links with the rest of the network.