Practical and Robust Power Management for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) consist of tens or hundreds of small, inexpensive computers equipped with sensors and wireless communication capabilities. Because WSNs can be deployed without fixed infrastructure, they promise to enable sens-ing applications in environments where installing such infrastructure is not feasible. However, the lack of fixed infrastructure also presents a key challenge for applica-tion developers: sensor nodes must often operate for months or years at a time from fixed or limited energy sources. The focus of this dissertation is on reusable power management techniques designed to facilitate sensor network developers in achieving their systems ’ required lifetimes. Broadly speaking, power management techniques fall into two categories. Many power management protocols developed within the WSN community target specific hard