Defense applications for large numbers of distributed small sensors

Military microsensors are networked distributed embedded systems composed of a processor, a radio, and sensors used for personnel or vehicle detection. They are most often found in minefield replacement, force protection, and perimeter security applications where size, weight, power, and cost requirements are equally challenging. In this paper, we discuss the different system design approaches used in microsensor systems, which range in composition from large networks of small nodes to small networks of large nodes. We introduce a modular, scalable, power-aware microsensor architecture intended to support the diversity of applications as well as the entire dynamic range required of these systems. Next, we describe a reference implementation of this concept and experimental results from field tests.