ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a simple model for characterizing the statistics of signals associated with objects in the sensor field. Detection and classification of objects moving through the sensor field is an important task in many applications. Exchange of sensor information between different nodes in the vicinity of the object is necessary for reliable execution of tasks for a variety of reasons, including limited information gathered by each node, variability in operating conditions, and node failure. Wireless sensor networks are an emerging technology for monitoring the physical world with a densely distributed network of wireless nodes. Virtually all applications of sensor networks are built upon two primary operations: distributed processing of data collected by the nodes; communication and routing of processed data from one part of the network to another. A wide variety of applications are being envisioned for sensor networks, including disaster relief, border monitoring, condition-based machine monitoring, and surveillance in battlefield scenarios.
