CENS Technical Seminar Series

Energy-Aware Remote Sensing

Invited Speaker: Professor Neil White and Geoff Merrett
Date: July 30, 2008
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Venue: CENS Conference Room

Abstract

The talk will give a brief overview of ongoing research in the Electronic Systems and Devices Group at the University of Southampton, UK. The main focus will be on the area of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and how energy harvesting techniques can be used in this respect. We will discuss how, in addition to information flow, the network needs to be aware of (and account for) the energy constraints on individual sensor nodes. We will describe how WSNs, having a variety of mobile and static nodes, can be used within a micro/nano fabrication facility to provide information about the status of equipment and location of individuals within the clean room environment.

Biography

Professor Neil White is the Head of the Electronic Systems and Devices group and Deputy Head of School for Enterprise within the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, UK. He obtained his PhD from Southampton in 1988 for a thesis on the piezoresistive effect in thick-film resistors and its application to load transduction. He is a co-founder and former Director of the University spin-out company Perpetuum Ltd., which specializes in vibration harvesting systems. He has over 200
publications in the area of sensor technology, instrumentation and energy harvesting.

Geoff Merrett received the BEng degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Southampton in 2004 where, having recently completed the research for his PhD, he is now a research fellow. His research interests include wireless sensor networks, wireless sensing and RF-ID, with particular emphasis on low power algorithms and design.