Strategies for Wireless Intelligent Sensing Devices (WISDs)

The development of Wireless Intelligent Sensor Devices (WISDs) has led to significant experiemental and computational challenges. This paper descibes the development of low cost, self powered, wireless sensors with built-in intelligence capable of withstanding harsh environments, initially to be deployed for aerospace and automotive applications. The scope of the paper encompasses the integration of key technology developments: sensors; energy efficient data processing and feature extraction; power scavenging; and, information communication between distributed elements using telemetry. Clearly it would be an abmitious task to cover all of these technologies in one paper, so we will three elements of research which are pertenent to the successful outcome of the work. Thus the paper outlines progress made by the authors in: (i) Intelligent Active Sensing; (ii) Statistical Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning; and (iii) Energy Harvesting. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss some of the issues which are of direct relevance to constructing and operating wireless sensor within harsh environment.