ViMobiO: Virtual Mobility Overlay for static sensor network testbeds

To streamline the development of protocols and applications for wireless sensor networks with mobile elements, we propose the use of a virtual mobility overlay (ViMobiO). Using an idea from mobile ad hoc network research, physical nodes are seen as possible locations of logical nodes, whose motion is simulated with a state transfer between physical nodes. To maximize flexibility, state transfers are performed over the radio rather than over the wired backchannel, enabling testbed users to choose their mobility strategy within the constraints of network connectivity and to build on top of ViMobiO with no need to modify the testbed management software. Though the vagaries of low-power wireless propagation must be accounted for to ensure successful state transfers, our approach returns meaningful mobility profiles and adds a new dimension to large-scale experiments with wireless sensor networks.