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Introducing Advanced Wireless Sensor Network Undergraduate Research

Xiaojing Yuan, Heidar Malki, Gangbing Song, Consuelo L. Waight

Abstract Advances in sensor technology and the availability of affordable mass data storage devices are enabling a new security infrastructure. The infrastructure goes beyond traditional wired supercomputers, clusters, and workstations to include more ubiquitous observing and sensing systems, intelligent and remotely operable instrumentation, and handheld communication devices. Although timely and important, the introduction of these advances in undergraduate curriculum is limited. In this paper, we report our effort in linking advanced wireless sensor networks and undergraduate research.

Introduction Within the last decade, we have seen tremendous technological advances in sensors, wireless networking, and processing that not only make the connection between the physical world and cyber-informatics world possible, but also make such connection affordable. Even though quality of service, security and privacy for wireless connection; and information integration are challenges, introducing wireless sensor network technology into undergraduate research can help attract and prepare future engineers. To achieve this goal, we started with individualized research experiences.

The multi-disciplinary program involves faculty from two colleges and three departments; the 10 projects ranges from smart material based transducer, to networking protocol development, information security of the wireless networking, and wireless sensor network in biomedical applications. The program is designed to provide opportunities for promising undergraduates in Engineering and Engineering Technology to engage in interdisciplinary research projects during a 10 week summer period. It is hosted by the Engineering Technology Department in the College of Technology and Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering of the University of Houston. It is a unique interdisciplinary opportunity that helps undergraduates explore the next generation of sensor network infrastructure. Our program is characterized by four broad goals, namely: recruit academically promising students from underrepresented populations; expand undergraduate research opportunities; increase the number of undergraduate students with research skills and experience; and improve long-term student outcomes.

Logistics We advertise the research opportunity through a designated website (http://tech.uh.edu/Research/NSF-REU/), email list such as ETD-list, and direct contacts with faculty members from campus serving under-represented student population. Within a month, we received a diverse set of applications from which eleven students were selected. Figure 1 shows the distribution of gender and demographics of the applicants (left column) and participants (right column).

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Yuan, X., & Malki, H., & Song, G., & Waight, C. (2009, June), Introducing Advanced Wireless Sensor Networks Into Undergraduate Research Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5023