ETH Zurich : Computer Science : Pervasive Computing : Distributed Systems : Research : Embedded WiSeNts

Embedded WiSeNts - Wireless Sensor Networks and Cooperating Smart Objects

A Research Cooperation in Cooperation with the Distributed Systems Group

Embedded systems are characterized by their very need to interact with the environment. This interaction can take place in the form of sensing as well as actuation. Because of system complexity, isolated entities often cannot perform this interaction efficiently or reach the required control objectives easily. Hence, for purposes such as exploration and control of the environment, cooperation between individual entities becomes a necessity, jointly controlling and influencing the physical processes in large-scale systems.

Wireless sensor networks are a typical example of such cooperation among physical entities. These networks consist of objects, individually capable of simple sensing, actuation, communication, and computation, but only by cooperation the full capabilities of such networks is reached. More generally, these objects can cooperate with other individual, smart objects, controllers, or even with users via proper interfaces.

While these "cooperating smart objects" represent a promising technology, the concrete realization of the underlying vision is still unclear. The clarification of the potential and realization of this vision is the essential goal of this project. The project intends to explore the actual needs of manufacturers and appliers of this technology as well as the most important research issues, to identify road blockers for progress, to present a roadmap how these road blockers can be removed, and to foster teaching and education to form a basis for future research.

The consortium includes 12 partners from all over Europe. The project with the official title "Cooperating Embedded Systems for Exploration and Control Featuring Wireless Sensor Networks" is funded by the European Commission and runs for two years starting in September 2004. The consortium's Web page can be found at www.embedded-wisents.org.

This demo was created in February 2007.