System for controlled testing of sensor networks

In this paper, we first identify the need for a system which can accurately reproduce sensed input or stimuli for fair evaluation of wireless sensor network applications. We then present an architecture for a system that utilizes sensor nodes to not only provide the required stimuli but also allow control over sensor nodes that are executing the application under test. In our architecture, each sensor node executing the application under test is paired with a stimuli generating node called the stimuli node. Our architecture, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to provide the benefits of both hardware-based and software-based approaches. We also showcase a prototype implementation of the architecture using the MICAz hardware platform and TinyOS operating system software. Evaluation results for the prototype in a network setting are then presented to demonstrate that this architecture is a viable stimuli system for testing wireless sensor networks applications.