Capability and potential of disposable organic sensor networks

The maturity of unattended ground sensor (UGS) technologies is accelerating as the range of fully funded military applications increases. These applications however can still suffer from the stovepipes of the past and UGSs still cannot claim to be a panacea for remote engagement of enemy forces. Presented in This work is a vision of the emergence of disposable organic sensors network (DOSNs) systems. This work discusses the reasons, drivers and technologies that support this concept and discuss some of the platform tradeoffs that can enable the correct balance between the different platform types. This paper is supported by trial and testing results from both the platforms and sensors perspective, and draws on the development and capability of low cost UGS, unmanned air vehicles (UAV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) technologies funded by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).