Application and Modeling of a Magnetic WSN for Target Localization

The aim of this study is modeling ferromagnetic targets for localization and identification of such objects by a wireless sensor network (WSN). MICAz motes were used for setting up a wireless sensor network utilizing a centralized tree-based system. The detection and tracking of ferromagnetic objects is an important application of WSNs. This research focuses on analyzing the sensing limitations of magnetic sensors via tests conducted on small-scale targets which are moving within a 30 cm radius around the sensors. To detect target pres-ence and determine direction of motion, changes in magnetic field intensity are measured by the magnetic sensors. Target detection, identification and sequential localization (DISL) were accomplished using a minimum distance algorithm. The effect of environmental variations, such as temperature and power supply variations and magneticnoise, on DISL performance is examined based on experimental tests.