Distributed cooperative sensor networks using intelligent adaptive antennas

There has been considerable effort over the past few years to develop MANETs and to show their suitability for sensor networks. Concurrently, there has been vast improvement in radio link capability, primarily through the adoption of MIMO antenna technologies. The combination of these elements has been proposed as a means to provide higher performance sensing capability, but models currently assume that only single nodes, or single nodes within clusters, have MIMO links. This paper describes an approach using cooperation between nodes to collaboratively create MIMO, diversity and beam formed antennas from the distributed sensor elements. The power trade off in creating such distributed intelligent adaptive antennas versus using single nodes with smart antennas is addressed. The routing issues associated with both approaches are also addressed. The benefits promised by cooperative intelligent adaptive antennas for sensor networks include better power management, longer distance communication and higher data rates.