Distributed, Embedded Sensor and Actuator Platforms

Distributed embedded sensor and actuator platforms will be at the core of any research initiatives on smart objects. In this context, recent developments in wireless sensing and micro-sensor technologies provide foundation platforms for considering the development of effective modular systems. They offer the prospect, currently at a prototyping level, of flexibility in use and network scalability. Wireless sensor devices are the hardware building blocks required to construct the core elements of wireless sensor networks. A number of large scale research programmes have developed over the last few years to explore these emerging technologies. We review some of the largest of these, including a review of the current wireless sensor integration technologies. This chapter will also look more closely at some of the more well-known wireless motes that are being used as toolkits for research, development and field trials.