This Project aims to investigate innovative solutions for the application of WSN networks to the implementation of monitoring systems for safety critical application. This objective is pursued by means of the integration of two research lines: a technological line targeting new solutions for a reliable and efficient management of network resources, and a methodological line targeting the definition of modelling and analysis techniques oriented toward quantitative evaluation of dependability and quality of service. Between these two lines a two-fold connection exists.
On one hand, modelling and analysis techniques will allow the comparison of different system organization and configurations in terms of dependability and service quality; on the other hand, those evaluation techniques that can be executed on-line, compatibly with WSN computing power, will also be integrated as parts of advanced strategies for WSN resource management. The research activity proposed by the different Research Teams are scientifically relevant per se, and are in the frontier for the respective areas.
However, a result expected by the Project consists in the value added, deriving from the tight connection between the researchers of systems and modelling areas. In detail, we expect that such interaction could lead to technical solutions integrated and very innovative. In order to reach such a result, the effort to be provided is twofold. On one side, innovative technical solutions will be considered to improve the dependability and ensure the quality of service provided by WSNs. On the other side, it will be important to predict this availability gain with respect to the different operating conditions and costs.
The potential applications to the industrial field are witnessed by the large number of companies which have expressed their interest and willingness to be involved in the Project, by following the progress step by step, with the purpose of being the end users of the solutions developed. The participation of the companies interested to the Project will make it possible to identify real application scenarios with relevant industrial importance, and from the beginning will steer the Project activities towards practical solutions. All these aspects will foster the technology transfer of the know-how obtained by the Project.