Techniques for minimizing power consumption in low data-rate wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks can enable numerous embedded computing applications. One of the primary benefits of wireless sensor networks is their independence from the wiring costs and constraints. However, if the batteries must be replaced often (every week or every month), not only will the initial cost savings be lost, but also many remote sensing applications may become impractical. Therefore, long battery life (in the order of years) is essential; power efficiency is a critical requirement for wireless sensor networks. We have devised several novel techniques for minimizing power consumption in wireless sensor networks. Based on these techniques, we have developed a highly power-efficient sensor networking platform called the i-Bean Network. In this paper, we describe these techniques in detail and the associated tradeoffs.