Infrastructure for Testing Nodes of a Wireless Sensor Network

Abstract

Maintaining reliable networks of low cost, low energy wireless sensor network (WSN) nodes is a major concern. One way to maintain a reliable network is to perform in-field testing on nodes throughout their lifetimes, identifying failing nodes so that they can be repaired or replaced. This chapter explores the requirements for a wireless test access mechanism, and introduces a method for remote execution of software-based self-test (SBST) programs. In an effort to minimize overall test energy consumption, an SBST method is derived that takes the least amount of microcontroller cycles, and is compatible with system-level optimizations such as concurrent test execution. To further reduce test energy, compression algorithms compatible with WSN nodes are explored for use on test programs. The efficacy of all proposed methods is evaluated experimentally, using current measurement circuitry applied to a WSN node.

An Adaptive Amplifier System for Wireless Sensor Network Applications

“…It should be noted that in order to consider the whole node reliable, we assume that the tests of the other parts of the node are solved for instance with techniques and strategies like those presented in [20,21].…”