Design and implementation of an IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee based star network for data acquisition and monitoring

ZigBee based wireless technology is used to provide a low cost, low power, secured, PAN solution for monitoring of parameters from several distributed vacuum pumping modules installed in the SCC injection line. The parameters include module’s pump RPM, input current and pressure reading of different vacuum gauges. The ZigBee stack is written in a simplified form so that each node can create a network and can join to any established network when powered on. End nodes can be replaced through a little modification in the firmware codes. End node consists of sensors, signal conditioning circuits, microcontroller and ZigBee Transceiver whereas the Central node consists of microcontroller, Transceiver and UART interface. This paper highlights the future approach of utilizing this network for data acquisition related with environmental temperature, relative humidity, noise, water leakage from inaccessible areas of Cyclotron Vault, Pit, Basement and ECR Highbay for the ease of maintenance also the development of an environment monitoring system powered by solar cells covering a wide area.