ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the advancements in Wireless sensor networks. It starts with the foundation of WSN and points out the basic infrastructure of a typical WSN. In this segment, the chapter presents the factors and challenges faced by society in the absence of such a network. Major characteristics of a WSN, which make it convenient and popular, are discussed in the next section. The architecture of a detailed sensing sub-system is then discussed. A sensing sub-system is made up of the amalgamation of diverse types of architectures. These architectures depict the distinctive features and characteristics of a WSN. Some of the architectures that are discussed include data-centric, hierarchical, location and mobility-based architectures. A sensing sub-system is the core of a WSN, and other components such as acquiring the data and analysis of the data may remain the same for any type of such system. This section also deals with the advancements that have occurred to make a WSN more accessible and user-friendly with utmost accuracy – in other words, how a conventional WSN has become a robust, automated, advanced version of the same. The last section of this chapter is devoted to major areas which have benefited with the advancement of the WSN system. Some of these areas are health care, traffic control, communication, oil and gas, and agriculture. Furthermore, an insight is offered into major works that are going on currently.
