Sensor apparatus and system

• US 20070038395A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor360 LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Inventors: Green, David, Beale, Dean, Senoir, Jason, Hume, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A sensor module for use in a sensor network is described. The sensor module carries one or more sensor element, such as microphones or imaging devices, for detecting events in use. The sensor module has a locator for determining its location and preferably an orientation sensor for determining it location and a transceiver for communicating with other modules in the network or with a base station. The module also has a processor which is adapted such that, in use, the module communicates with other sensor modules and determines whether to operate in a sensing mode to detect events or a controlling mode. In this way a self organizing adaptive network is provided. The invention is particularly useful for rapid area deployment resulting in random placement such as by gun launch or air drop as once all the modules are deployed the network will work out which modules should act as sensor nodes and which should act as controlling nodes so as to maximise network efficiency.

Claims

1. A sensor module for use in a sensor network, the sensor module comprising at least one sensor, a locator for determining the location of the at least one sensor, a transceiver for communicating with other sensor modules and/or a base station and a processor wherein the processor is adapted, in use, to communicate with other sensor modules and to determine whether the sensor module should operate in a sensing mode or a controlling mode within the network.

2. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processor is adapted to consider the location of the sensor module with the location of other sensor modules in determining whether the sensor module should operate in a sensing mode or a controlling mode within the network.

3. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein in sensing mode the processor monitors the output of the at least one sensor to detect events.

4. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein in controlling mode the processor monitors receives information from other sensor modules and transmits information regarding events to a base station.

5. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in controlling mode, the processor periodically reviews whether the sensor module should operate in a sensing mode or a controlling mode within the network.

6. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the module includes a means of determining or estimating remaining power and the processor considers remaining power in determining whether the sensor module should operate in a sensing mode or a controlling mode within the network.

7. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor module is deployable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration.

8. A sensor module as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sensor module is adapted such that in the stowed configuration it may be co-operatively stacked with other sensor modules.

9. A sensor module as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sensor module comprises means for automatically deploying from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration.

10. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 comprising a self-righting means.

11. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 comprising an extendable portion.

12. A sensor module as claimed in claim 11 wherein one or more sensors are supported on the extendable portion so as to be located above ground level.

13. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor module comprises a base portion releasable connectable to a payload portion.

14. A sensor module as claimed in claim 13 wherein the base portion contains the processor, the transceiver and a power source.

15. A sensor module as claimed in claim 13 wherein the payload portion comprises the at least one sensor.

16. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locator comprises a GPS receiver.

17. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an orientation sensor for determining the orientation of the module.

18. A sensor module as claimed in claim 17 wherein the orientation sensor determines magnetic north.

19. A sensor module as claimed in claim 17 wherein the orientation sensor determines the orientation of the module to the vertical.

20. A sensor module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more of an acoustic sensor, a seismic sensor, an infrared detector,an ultraviolet detector and a visible band camera.

21. A sensor module as claimed in claim 20 wherein there are a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged in a spaced array.

22. A sensor network comprising a plurality of sensor modules each sensor module having a locator, a transceiver and a processor, the network being adapted so that the sensor modules communicate with each other and determine whether each sensor module should operate in a sensing mode or a controlling mode so as to most effectively identify and/or locate events in an area of interest.