SENSOR APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

摘要

A sensor module for use in a sensor network is described. The sensor module carries one or more sensor element (8), such as microphones or imaging devices, for detecting events in use. The sensor module has a locator for determining its location and preferably an orientation sensor for determinin g it location and a transceiver for communicating with other modules in the network or with a base station. The module also has a processor which is adapted such that, in use, the module communicates with other sensor modules and determines whether to operate in a sensing mode to detect events or a controlling mode. In this way a self organising adaptive network is provided . The invention is particularly useful for rapid area deployment resulting in random placement such as by gun launch or air drop as once all the modules a re deployed the network will work out which modules should act as sensor nodes and which should act as controlling nodes so as to maximise network efficien cy.