Real-time data collection in a spatially extended TDMA-based wireless sensor network

A major task of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is to collect data under a range of ambient conditions and with many different dynamics from a variety of sensors which are distributed, for instance, around an industrial plant. Focusing on real-time data collection for control applications, we present a spatial extension to our previously published self-organized TDMA-based WSN with star topology implemented on low-complexity commercial off-the-shelf hardware. Employing repeater nodes for two-hop neighbors retains both the real-time behavior and self-organization of the initial protocol. Under ideal conditions, the radius of the area covered by the WSN can be doubled while the increase in power consumption due to the repeater nodes remains moderate.