ScatterWeb: A wireless sensornet platform for research and teaching

This article presents ScatterWeb, a distributed, heterogeneous platform for the ad-hoc deployment of sensor networks offering hardware and open, fully documented software for research and teaching in embedded sensor networks. ScatterWeb consists of sensor nodes and several gateways connecting the sensor network to other wired or wireless networks. Already low-power by design, the sensor nodes offer additional energy conservation mechanisms and support energy efficient routing and applications. Even image capturing and transmission is possible with a minimum of energy. Together with auto-configuration and remote reprogramming techniques, these power saving mechanisms enable ScatterWeb nodes to survive many years in real-life scenarios without any in-place maintenance.