Distributed Wireless Sensor

Measurements

Mircea Stremtan
Technical Consultant&Sales Manager
National Instruments Romania
Wireless Is Everywhere

Environmental Resource Industrial

Monitoring Monitoring Measurements

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The Benefits of Wireless Measurements
Reduce • Reduce installation costs and time
Costs • Reduce maintenance costs

• Optimize measurement processes

Increase • Access data almost anywhere and
Efficiency anytime
• Decrease downtime

• Overcome power and infrastructure

Monitor limitations
Anywhere • Solve new and previously challenging
applications

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Motivation for Wireless Measurements
• Cost reduction WAS the driving
force behind industrial in the first
part of the decade
• Flexibility and agility are growing in
importance
• Moving forward, it will be about
both

2008 VDC research study: 2012 numbers are projections

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Monitoring or Control?
Worldwide Shipment Shares
of Industrial Wireless Products
(Share of Shipments)
2008 VDC research study: 2012 numbers are projections
• Wireless monitoring is often
layered in on top of, or alongside
existing wired monitoring solutions
– not replacing them
• Factory and plant managers are
approaching wireless networking
suppliers – not necessarily
automation experts – for advice
and counsel
• Control is added most often as a
2nd/ 3rd phase project
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 Reduced Installation Costs
• Eliminates need for laying wired
infrastructure
• Reduced material and labor costs
• Appealing to today’s market and
economy
“Using this information and based on the savings of $400,808 on the
initial capital investment of the PA replacement, we showed 58
additional points added to the wireless network at a savings of 80%
per point would provide additional savings of $192,400”

http://www.isa.org/InTechTemplate.cfm?Section=Article_Index1&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=73003

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Application Areas
Energy Efficiency
Smart grid, power monitoring

Environmental Monitoring
CO2 emission, climate change

Structural Health Monitoring

Bridge infrastructure, building monitoring

Industrial Measurements
Machine monitoring, hazardous area measurements

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Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)
Defined as a wireless network that consists of spatially distributed
devices that use sensors to monitor physical or environmental
conditions
Applications include:
• Environmental monitoring
• Structural monitoring
• Industrial machine monitoring
• Power quality and consumption
• Building and home automation
• Health care
• Asset monitoring

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Wireless Sensor Network

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Frequency Spectrum

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 Protocols & Comparison
Wi-Fi™ Bluetooth™ Wireless USB ZigBee™
802.11 Family 802.15.1 & 802.15.4
Applications Enterprise, networking PC peripherals, PC peripherals, cable Sensors,
(internet) cable replacement replacement, home/building
multimedia automation, toys
Range 50 m 10 – 100 m 3 – 10 m 50 – 100 m

Data Rate 54 Mbps (540Mbps) 750 kbps 110 – 480Mbps 250 kbps

Nodes per Network > 1,000 7 127 65,000

Battery Life Hours Days Hours/Days Years

Set-Up/Usability Better Good Better Good  Best

Frequency 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz 2.4 GHz 3 – 10 GHz 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz

Security Best Good Best/Good Better

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Industrial Wireless Market Protocols
Wireless HART, 802.11n and Zigbee are expected to capture material share

IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n

IEEE 802.15.4

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 Wireless Standards
High WLAN
Cellular
Cost, and Complexity
Power Consumption,

IEEE 802.11 Transmission

Wi-Fi Distance

WPAN Long
Bluetooth
Medium

Short
ZigBee
IEEE 802.15.4
Low
(Battery)
100 k 1M 10 M 100 M
Data Rate (b/s)

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IEEE 802.11 Host Layers
Application Layer

• IEEE 802.11defines:
 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz radios
 OFDM, CCK, MIMO
Network process to application
Presentation Layer
Data representation and encryption
Session Layer
Inter-host communication

 a/b/g/n data rates

Transport Layer
End-to-end connections & reliability

Media Layers

• Application and Network adds: Network Layer

Path determination & logical addressing

 Packetizing data (TCP) Data Link Layer

Physical addressing
 Addressing (IP)
Physical Layer
 Data protocols (HTTP, FTP, etc) Radio, RF properties/definitions

IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi or Host App

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2.4 GHz Channels, IEEE 802.11

• IEEE 802.11
 2400-2483.5 MHz
 Up to 14 channels (1-14), 1-11 most common
 Channel Width – 22 MHz
 Channel Spacing – 5 MHz apart

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IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee NI-WSN
Sits on top – makes protocol proprietary
• Popular for WSN devices Application Layer
Application Support
• IEEE 802.15.4 defines: Data service and management
 868, 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz radios ZigBee Device Objects
 Up to 250 kb/s Device coordination: gateway, router, or
 Low-power communication end device
Application Framework
• ZigBee adds: User Profiles
 Device coordination
 Network topologies Network Layer
 Interoperability with other wireless products Routing, Network Topologies, and Security

• NI-WSN Medium-Access Control Layer

 Sits on top
 Makes protocol proprietary Physical Layer
868 MHz/915 MHz/2.4 GHz
 Other ZigBee devices CANNOT join the
NIWSN network

IEEE 802.15.4 ZigBee

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 Reliable NI-WSN, Based on IEEE 802.15.4
• Channels 11-24
• Defines joining, re-joining, mesh routing
• Ensures data integrity
• Performs device authentication
• Manages node sleep times, acquisition intervals, and heartbeats

1 gateway per 14 wireless 36 nodes 4 analog channels 2,016 analog channels

wireless channel X channels X per gateway X per node = in a single environment!

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 2.4 GHz Channels, IEEE 802.15.4
IEEE 802.15.4
 2400-2483.5 MHz
 Up to 16 channels (11-26)
• NI-WSN supports 11-24
 Channel Width – 2 MHz
 Channel Spacing – 5 MHz apart

IEEE
802.15.4
Channel
Center Frequency (MHz)

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Wi-Fi and NI-WSN Co-existence

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Ways to Ensure Co-Existence
1. Set Wi-Fi Access Points and NI-WSN channels to avoid overlap

2. Create spatial distance between systems with same channel

 ie, separate Wi-Fi APs on channel 1 by >30 m
 ie, separate NI-WSN networks on channel 15 by >300m

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Avoid Overlap: Example # 1

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 Avoid Overlap: Example # 2

IEEE
802.15.4
Channel
Center Frequency (MHz)

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Wireless Sensor Network

• Open Discussion

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Data Flow

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Single Point Acquisition

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Single Point Acquisition

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NI-WSN Protocol: Acquisition Loops

Node Gateway Host

Sample Interval 200 ms Host VI Loop Rate

(User Configurable) (User Configurable)

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Waveform Acquisition (NEW!)

Waveform Interval (s)

Data to GW

Msg Check

Waveform Sample Rate (Hz)

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Data Correlation and Node Timestamping

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Node Timestamping

Node … …

Data

Msg
Check

Gateway … …
T

All nodes remain within 1 second of gateway

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Wireless Sensor Network

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Network Topologies
WSN and WiFi DAQ WSN and WiFi DAQ WSN Only!

Star Cluster/Tree Mesh

Distance Reliability

Complexity Latency

Gateway
Router Node

End Node

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NI WSN Topology 1: 8 WSN Nodes
G Gateway
R1 Router
N End Node
N
N
X

G
N
N

N
N

N N
X= Distance

Gateway and 8 End Nodes

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NI WSN Topology Example: One Hop
G Gateway
R1 Router
N End Node

R1 R3
N x8
N x8
G
N x8 x8
N
ER2 R4

Gateway + 4 Routers + 32 End Nodes

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NI WSN Topology 3: Two Hops
G Gateway
R4 N x7
R1 Router
N End Node
R3

x7 R1 R2 G R5 R6 N x7
N

R7

R8 N x7

Gateway + 8 Routers + 28 End Nodes

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NI-WSN Protocol: Joining

Connect Connection Configure

Request Confirmed Node

Power Scan
On Channel Connection
Denied
Sample

Go to
next
channel

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NI-WSN Protocol: Rejoining

Connect Connection Configure

Request Confirmed Node

Power Scan
On Channel
Connection
Denied Sample
No Network
Found

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CHOOSING A WIRELESS
MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FROM NI

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Choosing the Right Wireless Technology
IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.15.4
NI Wi-Fi DAQ NI WSN
Throughput Up to 250 kS/s < 10 S/s

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Choosing the Right Wireless Technology
IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.15.4
NI Wi-Fi DAQ NI WSN
Throughput Up to 250 kS/s < 10 S/s

Range Up to 100 m Up to 300 m

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Determining Range
• Wireless range – depends on YOUR
environment
 Spec’d distances are “typical”
 Vendors provide indoor and outdoor ranges
• Factors that impact range
 Indoor
• Building construction
(i.e. metal vs. wood vs. glass)
• Office configurations (cubes vs. offices)
 Outdoor (line of sight)
• Lack of line of sight
• Trees or other objects

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Choosing the Right Wireless Technology
IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.15.4
NI Wi-Fi DAQ NI WSN
Throughput Up to 250 kS/s < 10 S/s

Range Up to 100 m Up to 300 m

Topology Star, Tree Star, Tree, Mesh

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Choosing the Right Wireless Technology
IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.15.4
NI Wi-Fi DAQ NI WSN
Throughput Up to 250 kS/s < 10 S/s

Range Up to 100 m Up to 300 m

Topology Star, Tree Star, Tree, Mesh

Power Line / Wall-Powered Up to 3 years battery power

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Choosing the Right Wireless Technology
IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.15.4
NI Wi-Fi DAQ NI WSN
Throughput Up to 250 kS/s < 10 S/s

Range Up to 100 m Up to 300 m

Topology Star, Tree Star, Tree, Mesh

Power Line / Wall-Powered Up to 3 years battery power

Gateway Authentication
Security WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i)
(NO Encryption)

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NI Wireless Sensor Network

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Key Vocabulary

• Gateway

• Node, end node, router node, “mote”

• Mesh Gateway
Router Node
End Node

• ZigBee

• LabVIEW WSN, “VI on the node”

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 Key NI-WSN Terminology
• Sample Interval
 Time between measurements (in sample per minute or seconds)
 User configurable – can be set programatically using LabVIEW WSN

• Heartbeat Interval ( = 61s)

 Time between periodic handshake between Gateway and Nodes. User messages and
timebase are sent/received
 Will occur even if sample interval is >61 seconds

• Sensor Power
 Appx 12 volts (see datasheet/specifications for tolerance range)
 Power sourced from NI voltage nodes (3202 and 3226) to drive external sensors

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What Is a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)?
What Is a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)?

Mesh Router

Mesh Router
End Nodes
WSN System Architecture Example
WSN Measurement
Host Controller Nodes

OR Dissolved
Oxygen
Temperature

Radio
IEEE 802.3 Battery
Ethernet Microcontroller
Analog Circuit
WSN Gateway Sensor Interface
Voltage

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WSN System Architecture: Software
LabVIEW

LabVIEW WSN LabVIEW for Database Worldwide Wireless Enabled

Real-Time Gateways Windows Servers Web Smart Objects

• NI-WSN: Network config, drag-and-drop programming

• LabVIEW Web Services
WSN
Measurement • LabVIEW DSC: Database and SCADA
Nodes • LabVIEW WSN: Node-level programming

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NI 9792 WSN Architecture Example

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Choosing the Right Wireless
Measurement Platform
NI Wi-Fi DAQ NI WSN
(IEEE 802.11g) (IEEE 802.15.4)
Battery Lifetime 1 to 2 days 2 to 3 years
Max. Bit Rate 54 Mbit/s 250 kbit/s
Range 100 m 300 m
Security IEEE 802.11i Gateway
(WPA2 Enterprise) Association

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Simple. Secure. NI Wi-Fi Data Acquisition.
Simple: NI C Series modules with
direct sensor connectivity and
NI-DAQmx driver software

Secure: Highest commercially

available data encryption and
authentication (WPA2)

Wi-Fi: Streaming waveform

measurements over 802.11g or
Ethernet network infrastructure

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 Wireless and Ethernet
C Series Module Support
Measurement Module Signal # Chan Rate
NI WLS-9205 ±10 V analog input, 16 bits 32 250 kS/s
Analog Input NI WLS-9206 600 VDC isolated, 16 bits 16 250 kS/s
NI WLS-9215 Simultaneous sampling, 16 bits 4 100 kS/s/ch
NI WLS-9211 Thermocouple, 24 bits 4 14 S/s
Thermocouple
NI WLS-9213 Thermocouple, 24 bits 16 75 S/s/ch
Universal NI WLS-9219 Universal (11 modes) 4 100 S/s/ch
Sound/Vibration NI WLS-9234 IEPE (accelerometer), 24 bits 4 51.2 kS/s/ch
Bridge NI WLS-9237 Bridge completion, 24 bits 4 50 kS/s/ch
NI WLS-9421 11 to 30 VDC sinking digital input 8 Software timed
Digital I/O NI WLS-9472 6 to 30 VDC sourcing digital output 8 Software timed
NI WLS-9481 60 VDC, 250 Vrms relay 4 Software timed

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Low-Power. Reliable.
Wireless Sensor Networks.
• Low-Power
Up to 3-year lifetime with 4 AA batteries

• Reliable
NI WSN protocol and mesh routing

• Wireless Sensor Networks

Remote wireless measurements

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NI WSN-9791
Wireless Sensor Network Ethernet Gateway
Features
• 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.15.4 radio
• 10/100 Ethernet
• Connect up to 36 measurement nodes
• Outdoor range up to 300 m
• 9 to 30 VDC power input

Specifications
• 2U compact form factor
• Panel or DIN rail mounting
• Industrial ratings
• Operating temperature -30 to 70 ºC
• 50 grms shock 5 g vibration
• Status LEDs

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NI WSN-3202 and NI WSN-3212
Wireless Sensor Network Measurement Nodes
2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 radio
• Outdoor range up to 300 m
• Up to 3-year battery life with 4 AA batteries
• Optional 9 to 30 VDC power input
• Configurable as a mesh router
• Four bidirectional digital I/O lines
• Industrial ratings
• Operating temperature -40 to 70 ºC
• 50 grms shock 5 g vibration
Node Analog Digita Sample Sample Rate Resolution Features
Input l I/O Interval (samples/ (bits)
(seconds) minute)
NI WSN-3202 4 4 1 60 16 Sensor power: 20 mA at 12 V
Analog Input Node Input Ranges: ±10 V, ±5 V,
±2 V, ±0.5 V
NI WSN-3212 4 4 2 30 24 Supports types J, K, R, S, T,
Thermocouple Input Node N, B, E

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 WSN-3214: Strain/Bridge Completion Node
WFM data
• Perfect Solution for Wireless SHM
 Bridges, Buildings, Tunnels, Dams, Equipment
 Civil Engineers, Maintenance technicians,
Construction, Oil/Gas/Energy
• 4 Channels, Full/Half/Quarter bridge
 Internal excitation
 High speed, High resolution modes
• 2 DIO channels

NIST Research Project for NI Wireless Strain

Joint venture: NI, UT Civil Engineering, and WJE Assoc.
Goal: develop and field-test wireless system to reduce the cost of inspecting and monitoring highway bridges

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 WSN-3230 (RS-232) & WSN-3231 (RS-485)
To GW/Host
• Wireless interface to serial sensors and
instruments
 “Programmable Sensor/Instrument Control”
 Adds support for thousands of devices
• Many different applications
 Environmental monitoring
Command / Respond /
Query Parse  Control board interface
 Solar inverter monitoring
• Programmable ONLY
 Showcases key feature of WSN platform
“Any
Sensor”

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NI WSN Accessories and Starter Kit
• Outdoor Enclosure
 IP rating pending
 I/O glands for wire feedthrough
 External antenna NI WSN-3291

• NI WSN Starter Kit

 WSN-9791 Ethernet Gateway NI WSN Starter Kit
 2 programmable nodes
 Sensors and power accessories
 LabVIEW Evaluation Software
 Getting Started Guide

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Energy Harvesting & NI WSN

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Example

Node 1

Node 2
…

Node n

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 Wireless Application Areas

Environmental Resource Industrial

Monitoring Monitoring Measurements

Air/ Water/ Indoor Power Solar Wind Farm Structural Machine Process
Climate Soil Monitoring Monitoring Monitoring Monitoring Health Condition Monitoring
Monitoring Monitoring

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 Biofuels from Algae

• Algae converts sunshine into chemical energy

• Why algae as a fuel source?
 Does not rely on commercial crops
 Can be grown on arid land or in the ocean
 More efficient (water and land) than crop-based
biofuels
• NI WSN hardware used to monitor pH levels
and control the rate of feed
• LabVIEW WSN software performs data
analysis
“The and local
newly released WSNdecision making
product family combines many attractive features … wireless
networking, low power consumption, LabVIEW compatibility, and a flexible I/O portfolio.”

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Ronald Reagan Hospital Parking Monitoring –
UCLA Campus
Benefits
• Get people to open spaces
• Reduce traffic in parking garage
• Reduce campus traffic due to people searching for
parking spots

Solution Components
• WSN hardware interface with IR sensors to monitor
traffic flow
• Web service publishes parking
information to students, faculty,
and staff

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 Process Monitoring and Control with LabVIEW
and Wi-Fi DAQ
Application: Monitor and control the frequency of
cement granules bursting in a furnace to
characterize and optimize the cement
manufacturing process
Challenge: Continuous, real-time monitoring
under harsh conditions from a control room
located 100+ m from the furnace
Products: LabVIEW and Wi-Fi DAQ
Key Benefit: Retrofit an existing control system
using existing code to add remote
measurements with no additional cabled
infrastructure
“With the flexibility of LabVIEW, we were able to reuse our existing code to quickly expand the
reach of our measurements using Wi-Fi data acquisition devices.”
– Jean-Michel Chalons, President, Saphir

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Inspection and Monitoring of Fracture-Critical Steel
Bridges
Application: Researching economical methods for
inspecting and monitoring the temperature,
strain, and acceleration of steel-girder highway
bridges at the Ferguson Structural Engineering
Lab at The University of Texas

Challenge: Continuous, real-time monitoring of a

loaded steel bridge several hundred feet long

Products: LabVIEW, Wi-Fi DAQ, and WSN

Key Benefit: Time and money saved by

eliminating cables and wiring

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