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Sensor Web and Internet of Things (IoT) (SW-IoT) have been attracting attention from various fields. Both of them deploy networks of embedded devices to monitor physical properties (i.e., sensing capability) or to be controlled (i.e., tasking capability). One of the most important tasks to realize the SW-IoT vision is to establish an open and interoperable architecture, across the device layer, gateway layer, service layer, and application layer. To achieve this objective, many organizations and alliances propose standards for different layers. Among the standards, Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) SensorThings API is arguably one of the most complete and flexible service standards. However, the SensorThings API only address heterogeneity issues in the service layer. Embedded devices following proprietary protocols need to join closed ecosystems and then link to the SensorThings API ecosystem via customized connectors. To address this issue, one could first follow another device layer and gateway layer open standards and then perform data model mapping with the SensorThings API. However, the data model mapping is not always straightforward as the standards were designed independently. Therefore, this research tries to propose a more direct solution to unify the entire SW-IoT architecture by extending the SensorThings API ecosystem to the gateway layer and the device layer. To be specific, this research proposes SW-IoT Plug and Play (IoT-PNP) to achieve an automatic registration procedure for embedded devices. The IoT-PNP contains three main components: (1) A description file describing device metadata and capabilities, (2) a communication protocol between the gateway layer and the device layer for establishing connections, and (3) an automatic registration procedure for both sensing and tasking capabilities. Overall, we believe the proposed solution could help achieve an open and interoperable SW-IoT end-to-end architecture based on the OGC SensorThings API.

Seafloor observatories enable long term, continuous and multidisciplinary observations, promising major breakthroughs in marine environment research. The effort to remotely control in situ multidisciplinary equipment performing individual and cooperative tasks is both a challenge and a guarantee for the stable operations of functional observatories. With China starting to establish ocean observatory sensor networks, in this study we describe a monitoring system for cabled observatories in the East China Sea (ESOMS) that enables this effort in a plug and play way. An information oriented monitoring architecture for ESOMS was first introduced, derived from a layered control model for ocean observatory sensor network. The architecture contained three components and enabled bidirectional information flow of observation data and commands, based on which architecture components were designed to enable plug-and-play control within related model layers. A control method enabled by general junction box (GJB) and ocean sensor markup language (OSML) was thus proposed as the plug-and-play solution for implementing ESOMS. The GJB-OSML enabled control method (GOE Control Method) mainly actualized two processes, one of which was that the in situ GJB interfaced and represented every attached sensor as a Sensing Endpoint in the cabled observatory network. The other process was that the remote ESOMS utilized the same IP/Port related information modeled by OSML to create/operate a Function Node acted as agent of the in situ sensor. A case study for using ESOMS in the Xiaoqushan Seafloor Observatory was finally presented to prove its performance and applicability. Given this successful engineering trial, the ESOMS design and implementation could be applicable and beneficial for similar efforts in future construction of seafloor observatory network both at home and abroad.

Microfluidics is quickly becoming a key technology in an expanding range of fields, such as medical sciences, biosensing, bioactuation, chemical synthesis, and more. This is helping its transformation from a promising R&D tool to commercially viable technology. Fuelling this expansion is the intensified focus on automation and enhanced functionality through integration of complex electrical control, mechanical properties, in situ sensing and flow control. Here we highlight recent contributions to the Sensors Special Issue series called “Microfluidics-Based Microsystem Integration Research” under the following categories: (i) Device fabrication to support complex functionality; (ii) New methods for flow control and mixing; (iii) Towards routine analysis and point of care applications; (iv) In situ characterization; and (v) Plug and play microfluidics.

[Abstract], This paper presents a novel home automation system named HASITE (Home Automation System based on Intelligent Transducer Enablers), which has been specifically designed to identify and configure transducers easily and quickly. These features are especially useful in situations where many transducers are deployed, since their setup becomes a cumbersome task that consumes a significant amount of time and human resources. HASITE simplifies the deployment of a home automation system by using wireless networks and both self-configuration and self-registration protocols. Thanks to the application of these three elements, HASITE is able to add new transducers by just powering them up. According to the tests performed in different realistic scenarios, a transducer is ready to be used in less than 13 s. Moreover, all HASITE functionalities can be accessed through an API, which also allows for the integration of third-party systems. As an example, an Android application based on the API is presented. Remote users can use it to interact with transducers by just using a regular smartphone or a tablet. [Resumen], Este artículo presenta un sistema de automatización doméstica nuevo llamó HASITE (Home Automation System based on Intelligent Transducer Enablers). El sistema basado en Activadores de Transductor Inteligentes), que expresamente ha sido diseñado para identificar y configurar transductores fácilmente y rápidamente. Estos rasgos son sobre todo útiles en situaciones donde muchos transductores son desplegados, ya que su sistema se hace una tarea incómoda que consume una cantidad de tiempo significativa y recursos humanos. HASITE simplifica el despliegue de un sistema de automatización doméstica usando redes inalámbricas, protocolos de autorregistro como autoconfiguración. Gracias al uso de estos tres elementos, HASITE son capaz de añadir nuevos transductores para impulsarlos. Según las pruebas realizadas en diferentes escenarios reales, un transductor está listo para ser usado en menos de 13 segundos. Además, todas las funcionalidades de HASITE pueden ser accesibles a través de una API, que también permite la integración de sistemas de terceros. Como ejemplo, se presenta una aplicación de Android basada en la API. Los usuarios remotos pueden utilizarlo para interactuar con los transductores con sólo usar un smartphone normal o una tableta. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; TEC2013-47141-C4-1-R Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; TEC2015-69648-REDC.

Cost reduction in wireless sensor networks (WSN) becomes a priority when extending their application to fields where a great number of sensors is needed, such as habitat monitoring, precision agriculture or diffuse greenhouse emission measurement. In these cases, the use of smart sensors is expensive, consequently requiring the use of low-cost sensors. The solution to convert such generic low-cost sensors into intelligent ones leads to the implementation of a versatile system with enhanced processing and storage capabilities to attain a plug and play electronic interface able to adapt to all the sensors used. This paper focuses on this issue and presents a low-voltage plug & play reprogrammable interface capable of adapting to different sensor types and achieving an optimum reading performance for every sensor. The proposed interface, which includes both electronic and software elements so that it can be easily integrated in WSN nodes, is described and experimental test results to validate its performance are given.

Urban air pollution has caused public concern globally because it seriously affects human life. Modern monitoring systems providing pollution information with high spatio-temporal resolution have been developed to identify personal exposures. However, these systems’ hardware specifications and configurations are usually fixed according to the applications. They can be inconvenient to maintain, and difficult to reconfigure and expand with respect to sensing capabilities. This paper aims at tackling these issues by adopting the proposed Modular Sensor System (MSS) architecture and Universal Sensor Interface (USI), and modular design in a sensor node. A compact MSS sensor node is implemented and evaluated. It has expandable sensor modules with plug-and-play feature and supports multiple Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Evaluation results show that MSS sensor nodes can easily fit in different scenarios, adapt to reconfigurations dynamically, and detect low concentration air pollution with high energy efficiency and good data accuracy. We anticipate that the efforts on system maintenance, adaptation, and evolution can be significantly reduced when deploying the system in the field.