12 units
Course Description (maximum 1950 characters): The use of distributed wireless sensor networks has surged in popularity in recent years with applications ranging from environmental monitoring, to people- and object-tracking in both cooperative and hostile environments. This course is targeted at understanding and obtaining hands-on experience with the state of the art in such wireless sensor networks which are often composed using relatively inexpensive sensor nodes that have low power consumption, low processing power and bandwidth. The course will span a variety of topics ranging from radio communications, network stack, systems infrastructure including QoS support and energy management, programming paradigms, distributed algorithms and example applications. Some guest lectures may be given.
Each discussion-oriented lecture will be preceded by the reading of 1-2 papers, resulting in a rich collection of papers by the end of the semester. Early in the semester, hands-on exercises will be used to teach the programming of FireFly sensor nodes by using the 'nano-RK' power-aware sensor real-time operating system (RTOS) and using 802.15.4 radio communications. Then, project groups of no more than 3 students will define, design, implement and test a sensor network project. The projects will target a campus-wide sensing infrastructure for planned deployment across CMU. Final in-class project presentations will be supplemented by a written report. A final exam may be conducted to evaluate the students' understanding of the materials covered. Grading criteria will include classroom participation, course project content and report, quizzes and a final exam.
Class size will be limited to 30 students or less. Prior hands-on experience with network programming, operating systems and assembly language are essential. Exceptions can be made only with the explicit permission of the instructors.
Prerequisites: 15-213, (18-349 or 15-410), one course on computer networks and senior or graduate standing.
Last updated on March 21, 2007
Software Systems and Computer Networking
This course is currently being offered.
F07, F06
Please note that the course history information is incomplete and/or may reflect different courses offered under the same course number.