Wireless Sensor Networking: A Mass Market Opportunity
More than half a billion nodes will ship for wireless sensor applications in 2010 for an end user market worth more than $7 billion, according to a recently released report by ON World Inc., an emerging wireless research firm.
In addition to reducing costs and increasing efficiencies for industries and businesses, wireless sensor networking will bring consumers a new generation of conveniences. A few of these include remote controlled heating and lighting, automated grocery lists, personal health diagnosis, automated automobile check-ups and alerts that let you know when your child might be in danger, according ON World. Although wireless sensors have been around for decades, these have stayed in an infancy stage until recently due to expensive, primitive radios and bulky, complicated sensors. Today, the wireless sensor market is poised to take off now that advanced radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) are now available for less than $3 in high volumes and smart sensor integrated circuits have become the norm.Standards to unleash innovation"Now that quality yet cheap radios and sensor ICs are readily available, the biggest limitation is the lack of networking standards, says Mareca Hatler, ON World Research Director. Because there are literally hundreds of proprietary network protocols today, manufacturers have created their own, mostly expensive, products that will not work with products from other manufacturers.The lack of standards has not only prevented the possibility for interoperability but also has limited innovation. Hatler says that "the upcoming ZigBee network protocol will provide a common platform upon which developers can create applications that will leverage the hardware advances with radios and sensors." The vision for the ZigBee specification is to enable developers to create solutions that will lower installation and maintenance costs for a variety of sensors used in industrial, commercial and residential settings. Improved industrial processes and safetyA killer app for wireless sensors is monitoring industrial processes and related equipment to alert staff of imminent failures which can save millions of dollars in potential lost productivity. Wireless sensors can also reach places where wires will not go and especially dangerous areas that might be filled with toxins or high temperatures. For example, opening a man hole can cost thousands of dollars per hour for the amount of effort that goes in to ensuring it is safe. Reduced energy consumption Wireless sensor networking is timely with the emphasis today on energy conservation and reduced expenses. ON World reports that because wireless sensors can be more easily installed and in a wider range of areas, they will likely reduce wasted lighting and heating expenditures by as much as 50 percent. In 2001, total energy costs in the United States were 15 percent of its GDP, or $891.1 billion. Over the next five years, utilities will be giving consumers more control over their energy consumption and bills as well through two-way communications with their utilities companies. Wireless automated meter reading (AMR), a form of wireless sensor networking, is a low-cost solution for utilities to offer this to their customers. Self-diagnosis and talking cars?Consumer usage of wireless sensors is perhaps one of the most interesting areas and one with the largest potential. According to ON World, residential wireless sensors will soon be used to control lighting as well as heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) and appliances. Pretty soon, consumers will be able to control aspects of remote parts of the house through their wireless sensor networks and user interfaces that they can access through either computers or remote controls. Not much longer after this, wireless sensor network technologies will enable consumers to keep track of their belongings, pets and children, have remote control over their car doors, gates, outdoor lighting and even some day, diagnose themselves and automatically send information about their cars to their mechanics (and vice versa). (http://www.onworld.com)
In addition to reducing costs and increasing efficiencies for industries and businesses, wireless sensor networking will bring consumers a new generation of conveniences. A few of these include remote controlled heating and lighting, automated grocery lists, personal health diagnosis, automated automobile check-ups and alerts that let you know when your child might be in danger, according ON World. Although wireless sensors have been around for decades, these have stayed in an infancy stage until recently due to expensive, primitive radios and bulky, complicated sensors. Today, the wireless sensor market is poised to take off now that advanced radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) are now available for less than $3 in high volumes and smart sensor integrated circuits have become the norm.Standards to unleash innovation"Now that quality yet cheap radios and sensor ICs are readily available, the biggest limitation is the lack of networking standards, says Mareca Hatler, ON World Research Director. Because there are literally hundreds of proprietary network protocols today, manufacturers have created their own, mostly expensive, products that will not work with products from other manufacturers.The lack of standards has not only prevented the possibility for interoperability but also has limited innovation. Hatler says that "the upcoming ZigBee network protocol will provide a common platform upon which developers can create applications that will leverage the hardware advances with radios and sensors." The vision for the ZigBee specification is to enable developers to create solutions that will lower installation and maintenance costs for a variety of sensors used in industrial, commercial and residential settings. Improved industrial processes and safetyA killer app for wireless sensors is monitoring industrial processes and related equipment to alert staff of imminent failures which can save millions of dollars in potential lost productivity. Wireless sensors can also reach places where wires will not go and especially dangerous areas that might be filled with toxins or high temperatures. For example, opening a man hole can cost thousands of dollars per hour for the amount of effort that goes in to ensuring it is safe. Reduced energy consumption Wireless sensor networking is timely with the emphasis today on energy conservation and reduced expenses. ON World reports that because wireless sensors can be more easily installed and in a wider range of areas, they will likely reduce wasted lighting and heating expenditures by as much as 50 percent. In 2001, total energy costs in the United States were 15 percent of its GDP, or $891.1 billion. Over the next five years, utilities will be giving consumers more control over their energy consumption and bills as well through two-way communications with their utilities companies. Wireless automated meter reading (AMR), a form of wireless sensor networking, is a low-cost solution for utilities to offer this to their customers. Self-diagnosis and talking cars?Consumer usage of wireless sensors is perhaps one of the most interesting areas and one with the largest potential. According to ON World, residential wireless sensors will soon be used to control lighting as well as heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) and appliances. Pretty soon, consumers will be able to control aspects of remote parts of the house through their wireless sensor networks and user interfaces that they can access through either computers or remote controls. Not much longer after this, wireless sensor network technologies will enable consumers to keep track of their belongings, pets and children, have remote control over their car doors, gates, outdoor lighting and even some day, diagnose themselves and automatically send information about their cars to their mechanics (and vice versa). (http://www.onworld.com)
posted by Rico Biriah at 9:30 am
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