Model-Based Design Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks Using SysML, Simulink and Modelica

Baobing Wang and John S. Baras

HSCC2012

Abstract:

Existing ad hoc system design methods for Wireless Sensor
Networks (WSNs) suer from lack of reusability, trade-o
analysis and design space exploration methods and tools. In
addition, the interactions between the continuous-time physical
environments and WSNs have not been well studied. In
this paper, we propose a model-based systems design (MBSD)
framework for WSNs, which is a systematic methodology
applying systems engineering principles to support system
requirements, design, analysis and verification/validation processes.
Firstly, we describe a hierarchy of model libraries
to model various behaviors and structures of WSNs, including
physical environments, physical platforms, communication
and computation components, system services and applications.
Based on the MBSD framework, we introduce
a system design flow to compose both continuous-time and
event-triggered-time modules to develop applications with
support for trade-o analysis, design space exploration and
interactive simulations. Next, the main modules for physical
platforms, the Media Access Control (MAC) layer, wireless
channels and physical environments are described in detail,
and are modeled in the Systems Modeling Language
(SysML), Simulink and Modelica. Finally, we use a building
thermal control system as the case study to demonstrate
the composability, reusability and flexibility of the proposed
MBSD framework.