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Structural Health Monitoring Using Smart Sensors - ideals ...

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Manager node<br />

Cluster head node<br />

Leaf node<br />

Base station<br />

Manager node<br />

Cluster head node<br />

Leaf node<br />

Base station<br />

(a)<br />

(b)<br />

Figure 3.1. SHM system architecture: Different roles are assigned to nodes in (a) and (b).<br />

In terms of functionality, smart sensor nodes in the proposed system are differentiated<br />

as follows: the base station, the manager node, cluster heads, and leaf nodes. All of the<br />

sensors deployed on a structure, in principle, work as leaf nodes. Leaf nodes receive<br />

commands from the other nodes and perform preprogrammed tasks such as sensing, data<br />

processing, and acknowledgment. A node in a local sensor community is assigned as a<br />

cluster head and coordinates most of the communication and data processing in the<br />

community. In addition to tasks inside the community, the cluster head communicates<br />

with the cluster heads of the neighboring communities to exchange information. One of<br />

the cluster heads also functions as the manager node. When intracluster RF<br />

communication spans multiple clusters, the manager deals with time sharing among<br />

clusters to avoid RF interference. The manager also exchanges packets with the leaf nodes<br />

to manage operations in which all of the leaf nodes participate; sensing that is triggered by<br />

the manager sensor is an example. The base station node is the gateway between smart<br />

sensor networks and the PC. The PC with a user interface sends commands and<br />

parameters to smart sensor networks via the base station. The PC also receives data and<br />

calculation results from the base station. While the base station can communicate with any<br />

node in direct communication range, most communication involving the base station is<br />

routed through the manager or cluster heads with the exception being transmission of a<br />

large amount of data or calculation results from leaf nodes to the PC for debugging<br />

purposes. Thus, smart sensors nodes are functionally differentiated into four categories<br />

(see Figure 3.1).<br />

This system architecture can be compared with tiered networks to clarify its<br />

characteristics. A tiered network assumes ample hardware resources at the upper level<br />

nodes. By reducing the constraints on hardware (i.e., power source, RAM space, flash<br />

memory space, radio bandwidth, etc.), a tiered network aims to implement more<br />

functionality on the network easily. However, such an assumption is not necessarily the<br />

case. When smart sensors are installed on a long suspension bridge, there needs to be<br />

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