Intelligent mobile agent middleware for wireless sensor networks: A real time application case study

In-Motes is a mobile agent middleware that generates an intelligent framework for deploying applications in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In-Motes is based on the injection of mobile agents into the network that can migrate or clone following specific rules and performing application specific tasks. By doing so, each mote is given a certain degree of perception cognition and control, forming the basis for its intelligence. We have developed, implemented and evaluated a real time application in a dynamic environment to determine how well In-Motes achieves its goals. Namely, In-Motes Bins is an agent based In-Motes application for environmental monitoring sensing light and temperature variations. Using In-Motes we were able to create and rapidly deploy our application on a WSN consisting of 10 MICA2 motes. Our application was tested in a wine store for a period of four months. In this paper we present the In-Motes Bins application and provide a detailed evaluation of its implementation. We also present a detailed analysis of In-Motes middleware in regards of its efficiency, adaptability and reliability inside the WSN.