TDMA approach for efficient data collection in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are becoming increasingly attractive for industrial applications, where the requirements with respect to data rates, latency, and reliability are especially challenging. Due to cost reasons in such applications Standard hardware has to be used. As well known protocols like ZigBee or Wireless HART are not able to offer high data rates with short and deterministic delays, we propose in this contribution a time division multiple access-based approach for efficient data transmission in WSNs with a broad range of sample- and transmission rates. Our proposal is based on beacon-triggered time-intervals, supports wireless sensor nodes with a wide range of data rates and enables self organized joining and leaving of nodes. We present measurement results of a demonstration system in star topology using evaluation boards of the CC2510, a low-power System-on-Chip solution with integrated micro-controller and RF-transceiver, with two different sleep mode strategies to minimize power consumption.