A task scheduler framework for self-powered wireless sensors

ISA Trans. 2003 Oct;42(4):535-45. doi: 10.1016/s0019-0578(07)60004-4.

Abstract

The cost and inconvenience of cabling is a factor limiting widespread use of intelligent sensors. Recent developments in short-range, low-power radio seem to provide an opening to this problem, making development of wireless sensors feasible. However, for these sensors the energy availability is a main concern. The common solution is either to use a battery or to harvest ambient energy. The benefit of harvested ambient energy is that the energy feeder can be considered as lasting a lifetime, thus it saves the user from concerns related to energy management. The problem is, however, the unpredictability and unsteady behavior of ambient energy sources. This becomes a main concern for sensors that run multiple tasks at different priorities. This paper proposes a new scheduler framework that enables the reliable assignment of task priorities and scheduling in sensors powered by ambient energy. The framework being based on environment parameters, virtual queues, and a state machine with transition conditions, dynamically manages task execution according to priorities. The framework is assessed in a test system powered by a solar panel. The results show the functionality of the framework and how task execution reliably is handled without violating the priority scheme that has been assigned to it.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Models, Biological
  • Telemetry / instrumentation*
  • Telemetry / methods*
  • Transducers*