Synchronized data gathering in real-time embedded fiber sensor network

Abstract

An Embedded Fiber Sensor Network (EFSN) is a health monitoring network for large structure consisted of several sensor nodes, each equipped with fiber-optic sensor, embedded processor, and data transceiver. The collective sensing data of such a system of networked sensors can be utilized to evaluate structural health conditions of bridges, elevators, composites, mines, and even reactors. Key concerns for designing such networks are real-time detection, data synchronization and reliable information submission. This paper addresses these issues and presents an Independent Circular Cache Queue (ICCQ) to reduce the amount of traffic in the network. In the ICCQ mechanism, a self-managed scheme is implemented in the network to maintain stability under varying environmental disturbance and sensor sensitivities. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.