Rule-based programming of heterogeneous sensor and actor networks

Abstract

We present a rule-based programming approach for Sensor and Actor Networks (SANETs). The developed Rulebased Sensor Network (RSN) system provides network-centric communication and data processing with a very small footprint of necessary instructions. Based on the basic mechanism, rules can be exchanged among participating nodes in order to optimize the overall system behavior. In particular, we show the feasibility of data pre-processing mechanisms such as data aggregation as well as data-centric communication based on rules that are distributed throughout the entire network. The support of heterogeneous nodes is inherently integrated in terms of different hardware, e.g. sensors and actuators, and different data processing algorithms. RSN has been implemented as a simulation model as well as for experiments using BTnode sensors with attached sensors and actuator