Wireless Sensor Network Programmable Analog Input

Measurement Nodes

Programmable with the LabVIEW

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Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)

Module Pioneer

Extend battery life

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Increase sample rates

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Embed local decision making

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NI-WSN software provides easy

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network configuration and drag-and-

drop LabVIEW programming

Up to 3-year battery life

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2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.15.4 radio

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Outdoor range up to 300 m

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with line of sight

Four analog input channels

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Four bidirectional digital channels

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(input, sinking output, or

sourcing output)

Industrial ratings:

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-40 to 70 °C operating temperature

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50 g shock, 5 g vibration

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Overview

National Instruments wireless sensor networks (WSNs) deliver low-power

measurement nodes that offer industrial certifications, reliable networking, and

optional weatherproof outdoor enclosures for long-term, remote deployments.

The measurement nodes have direct sensor connectivity and a 2.4 GHz radio

to wirelessly transmit data to the WSN Ethernet gateway. Each measurement

node offers four analog input channels and four digital I/O channels that you can

configure for input, sinking output, or sourcing output. You can customize the

behavior of programmable NI WSN measurement nodes with the NI LabVIEW

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Module Pioneer. Use this module to perform

custom analysis, embed decision making on NI WSN measurement nodes, and

extend battery life by optimizing node behavior.

Power

You can power the NI WSN measurement nodes with four 1.5 V AA alkaline

battery cells, with operation up to three years on battery power at one sample

per minute, or with a 9 to 30 V supply of external power.

You can configure the four digital I/O channels for input, sinking output, or

sourcing output. You must use an external power supply to provide sourcing

output through the digital I/O channels, with a maximum total current output

(aggregate on all channels) of 500 mA on the NI WSN-3212 and 1 A on the

NI WSN-3202. The WSN-3202 also offers a 12 V, 20 mA sensor power output

line that drives external sensors.

Wireless Networking

The measurement nodes and the NI WSN-9791 Ethernet gateway communicate

wirelessly using 2.4 GHz radios and the reliable NI WSN protocol based on

IEEE 802.15.4. The network accommodates up to 36 nodes per gateway and

provides an outdoor range of up to 300 m with line of sight. The gateway

maintains a list of nodes (by serial number) that have been authorized for

network access. When a node powers up, it scans for available networks,

locates either a gateway or mesh router node, and attempts to join. If the

gateway has the node in its list, the node joins the network, downloads the

latest configuration from the gateway, and begins its normal operation of

acquiring measurement data and controlling digital I/O.

Model

Signal Type

Analog Input

Channels

Resolution

(bits)

Minimum

Sample Interval

Input Range(s)

DIO Channels

DIO Voltage

Range (V)

Max DIO

Sourcing

(aggregate)

Additional Features

NI WSN-3202

Voltage

4

16

1

±10, ±5, ±2,

±0.5 V

4 (sinking or

sourcing)

5 to 30

1 A

12 V, 20 mA sensor power output

NI WSN-3212

Thermocouple

4

24

2

±73 mV

4 (sinking or

sourcing)

5 to 30

500 mA

Support for J, K, R, S, T, N, B, E

thermocouple types

1

Node sample intervals can be improved by customizing how the node samples and transmits data. Refer to the section on Node Programming for more information.

Table 1. WSN Node Specifications