Target tracking in wireless sensor networks

Running head: TARGET TRACKING IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
Target tracking in wireless sensor networks
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1TARGET TRACKING IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
1. Title: Target tracking in wireless sensor networks
2. Significance:
Target tracking is the matter of concern for the current era as it is helpful to detect and
monitor the motion of mobile targets. The sensor nodes consist of intelligence, where data can be
processes while it flows across the network. Sensor networks comprise of current technologies such
as power supply sub-system, sensing subsystem, a communication subsystem and computing
subsystem [1]. Target tracking is an application of WSN where sensor nodes control and report
positions of moving elements of users with minimum latency. Thus it develops communication,
production and quality of life [8]. It saves more lives, fuel, energies, resources and money though its
real-life implementations in battlefield surveillance, gas leakage, wildlife monitoring, fire spread and
detection of illegal border-crossing [2].
3. Literature review:
Arnold, Shaw and Pasternack (2008) showed that open researches for applications of target
tracking include dealing with varying speeds and direction changes of moving of moving objects.
Further, the technology is useful to recover energy effective missing target track, comparison of the
performance of dynamic and target track [9] [12]. Moreover, it is useful to find a relationship
between consumption of energy with forming cluster and tracking, provisioning and predicting
accuracy [4]. Target tracking is also applicable foe designing well organized nominal and
computing transmission of messages instead of degradation of performance since transmission of
message consumes lots of energy as discussed by Li and Jilkov (2003). Lastly, the sensor nodes are
helpful for fault detection.

2TARGET TRACKING IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
As seen from the above approaches, it can be deduced that energy conservation maximizes
the network lifetime and is addressed via effective, dependable wireless communication [3] [14].
Hence, Blackman (2004) highlighted the presence of intelligent placement of sensors for gaining
sufficient coverage, security and smart storage management [10] [13]. This is done through data
compression and data aggregation. The approaches are meant for satisfying energy constraint and
provide quality of service for those applications [6]. As per as reliable communications are
concerned, Mazor (2007) reveals that services like packet-loss recovery, acknowledgements, active
buffer monitoring and congestion control are needed to ensure guaranteed packet delivery [5].
However, energy consumption is a primary concern under target tracking protocols.
Vermaak, Godsill and Perez (2005) analyzed that while the sensor nodes face energy depletion, it
dies and gets disconnected from networks significantly affecting the application and the performance
[15]. Some of the limitations reviewed by Bar-Shalom and Birmiwal (2002) and Zhang and Cao
(2004) are listed hereafter [7] [11].
 A lifetime of sensor networks depends on the number of active nodes and network
connectivity of the net. Hence, energy should be utilized for maximizing the lifetime of the
network.
 Further, it is unable to track targets smart as the number of goals become huge. Besides,
target tracking needs modifications in real time.
 Detected object is larger than the actual size. Various holes are present in the results of
detection.
 While the objects move slowly, the motion is unreliable.
 Huge blocks fail to match the real motion sequence.