ST Journal Presents Latest Research Findings in Wireless Sensor Networks

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a leader in wireless and sensor technology, has published its latest issue of the ST Journal of Research focusing on Wireless Sensor Networks. Previous issues, similarly focused on a particular technology theme, have presented details on the Company’s advanced research efforts on MEMS and Multimedia Streaming Technologies.


Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are the key enablers of Ambient Intelligence, a vision establishing a smart, friendly, and context-aware environment that can detect and respond to specific human needs. WSNs are composed of miniature and interconnected smart devices that interact with each other seamlessly, creating an environment where computing and networking technology coexist with people in a ubiquitous and pervasive way.

WSN devices, which have been referred to as ‘smart dust,’ are complex integrated systems implementing a combination of functions including communication, security and signal or application processing. Because of the breadth of functions, research work in this field encompasses several domains, including sensor technology, radio-frequency communication, ad-hoc networks, low-power microcontrollers, transduction principles, energy management and middleware. The interoperability of WSNs with existing technologies such as the Internet, broadband wireless networks or database management systems is an important driver and consideration for the adoption and proliferation of WSNs.

STMicroelectronics has been among the first companies to enter the WSN market with the introduction of sensors, low-power microcontrollers, wireless radio devices, and other components in its portfolio. STMicroelectronics is a promoter of the ZigbeeTM alliance, an industry consortium working on the definition of network, security and application layers towards truly interoperable WSNs.

The editors of the ST Journal of Research have collected eleven technical papers addressing both system overviews and specific design topics. In the system overview arena, this issue covers ad-hoc networking technologies for WSN, radio-frequency issues, the integration of WSNs with the Internet, the mass-market adoption of ZigbeeTM solutions, techniques for source and node localization and the usage of WSN and MEMS for posture and activity recognition. Papers on specific design solutions cover a broad spectrum: the impact of impulsive interference on network throughput and energy consumption, medium-access control schemes in the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, solutions for the trade-off between power consumption and die area, and the usage of elliptic curve cryptography coprocessors for security issues.

“Mastering different system and process-technology domains is necessary to provide winning WSN solutions,” said Jim Nicholas, Microcontroller Division General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “This issue of the ST Journal aims at sharing and exchanging the results of the activities of ST and its research partners in this field with the technical community worldwide.”

The ST Journal of Research aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange on key research issues, methodologies, and solutions. ST publishes its journal in electronic format and is available at www.st.com/stonline/press/magazine/stjournal/index.htm.