Ultra-Low-Power Radios for Ad-Hoc Sensing Networks

Anew method has been developed for the design of a miniature, low-power, low-cost radio node capable of self-organization and communication within an ad-hoc network. The integrated radio transceiver, combined with a backend processor in a single networkable node, offers unique network scalability and low power levels that will enable applications that are not possible with any existing sensor node platform. One unique feature of this radio is that the proposed integrated microchip can be mass produced in a CMOS process without a costly external crystal so that the network formed by a set of homogeneous nodes is robust to network changes or node failure. These characteristics enable formation of reliable, inexpensive ad-hoc networks with group intelligence and long lifetimes.