Energy-effective low-cost small mobile robot implementation for mobile sensor network

In this paper, we describe an implementation of small mobile robot that can be used at research and application of mobile sensor networking. This robot that will constitute the sensor network, as a platform of multi-robot system for each to be used as sensor node, has to satisfy restrictions in many aspects in order to perform sensing, communication protocol, and application algorithms. First, the platform must be designed with a robust structure and low power consumption since its maintenance after deployment is difficult. Second, it must have flexibility and modularity to be used effectively in any structure so that it can be used in various applications. Third, it must support the technique of wireless network for ubiquitous computing environment. At last, to let many nodes be scattered, it must be cost-effective and small. Considering the above restrictions of the mobile platform for sensor network, we designed and implemented robots control the current of actuator by using additional circuit for power efficiency. And we chose MSP430 as MCU, CC2420 as RF transceiver, and etc, that have the strength in the aspect of power. For flexibility and modularity, the platform has expansion ports. The results of experiments are described to show that this robot can act as sensor node by RF communication process with Zigbee standard protocol, execute the navigation process with simple obstacle avoidance and the moving action with RSSI(Received Signal Strength Indicator), operate at low-power, and be made with approx. $100.