A Modular Architecture for Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks Nodes

Abstract

The current evolution of Wireless Sensor

Networks (WSN) has led us towards real world problems such

as the power supply of network nodes in an efficient and

sustained way. The actual implementation of these networks

calls for perpetually powered devices, since the constant

changing of the batteries is not a realistic scenario. That is the

main motivation behind the proposal of this new architecture,

having the low power consumption as a key objective and an

intelligent interaction with power supply modules.

The energy efficiency of this platform comes from three

different factors: the use of a last generation ultra low-power

microcontroller, the use of different communication modes and

the intelligent interaction with a harvesting module able to

perpetually supply energy to the network nodes. Hence, the

modularity of this platform, allowing for independent

development of its components, is a very important

characteristic.

We present and discuss the major features of the proposed

architecture, such as the used processor, how the modularity is

achieved and how we intend to implement the energy solutions.