LOCATION UNCERTAINTY IN ASSET TRACKING USING WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS

  • Jo, Jung-Hee (Telematics-USN Research Division Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) ;
  • Kim, Kwang-Soo (Telematics-USN Research Division Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Sung (Telematics-USN Research Division Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) ;
  • Kim, Sun-Joong (Telematics-USN Research Division Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute)
  • Published : 2007.10.31

Abstract

An asset tracking using wireless sensor network is concerned with geographical locations of sensor nodes. The limited size of sensor nodes makes them attractable for tracking service, at the same time their size causes power restrictions, limited computation power, and storage restrictions. Due to such constrained capabilities, the wireless sensor network basically assumes the failure of sensor nodes. This causes a set of concerns in designing asset tracking system on wireless sensor network and one of the most critical factors is location uncertainty of sensor nodes. In this paper, we classify the location uncertainty problem in asset tracking system into following cases. First, sensor node isn't read at all because of sensor node failure, leading to misunderstanding that asset is not present. Second, incorrect location is read due to interference of RSSI, providing unreliable location of asset. We implemented and installed our asset tracking system in a real environment and continuously monitored the status of asset and measured error rate of location of sensor nodes. We present experimental results that demonstrate the location uncertainty problem in asset tracking system using wireless sensor network.

Keywords