Reducing Complexity and Achieving Higher Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Network Communications by Using High Altitude Platforms

Abstract

In this chapter, a novel approach is explored to employ high-altitude platforms (HAPs) to remove the relaying burden and/or de-centralize coordination from wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The approach can reduce the complexity and achieve energy efficiency in communications of WSNs, whereby applications require a large-scale deployment of low-power and low-cost sustainable sensors. The authors review and discuss the main constraints and problems of energy consumptions and coordination in WSNs. The use of HAPs in WSNs provides favorable communication links via predominantly line of sight propagation due to their unique position and achieves benefits of reduced complexity and high energy efficiency, which are crucial for WSN operations.