Efficient monitoring of the gas composition of the environment
with sensor networks which cover large territories and provide
continuous monitoring of combustible and toxic gases can be
regarded as a problem of special significance [1]. The primary aim
of a gas detection system is to warn about potential danger associated
with life hazard and material injury. There are a number of
relatively simple to highly sophisticated gas monitoring systems
which ensure early detection and warnings [2]. In this paper, we
focus our attention on gas sensors assembled and/or integrated in
a network.
Prior to the introduction of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)
technology [3], sensor arrays were arranged in a network through
wires [4], which included the power supply. Being power independent,
wired monitoring systems may use powerful hardware, such
as powerful gas sensors [5] or digital signal processors (DSP) for
realtime data processing [6]. Wired sensors and monitoring systems,
however, come with many shortcomings: a long deployment
time, high maintenance cost, dependence on cable telemetry systems,
the inability of cables to resist to various damages, as well as
large demand in cable supplies. Moreover, in many cases there may be no power supply available to implement monitoring where it is
needed. Our first goal is therefore to remove the wires and develop
an autonomous gas monitoring system.