Solar powered wireless sensor systems for border security

A secure border necessitates the development of new technology for remote sensing and surveillance. We investigate and develop wireless sensor network systems consisting of spatially distributed sensor nodes that can monitor various environmental parameters including temperature, humidity, motion, and vibration, etc. The sensors, nodes and transceivers have low-power consumption and are powered by solar energy so that the systems can work over long time periods with minimal human intervention and maintenance. This paper presents the technology development, wireless sensor integration, power management, and communication architecture, as well as a demonstration of environmental monitoring.