Smart Rocks - A network of covert smart sensors (Joint UArizona UMass Project)

A variety of commercial sensors on the market provide wireless transmission; however, no wireless, modular, multi-sensor units are capable of mesh networking. Satellites and other heavy-duty sensor-based equipment have the ability to collect data from non-surveillance areas, but are limited in resolution due to their distance and profile.

This team, in conjunction with the University of Massachusetts Lowell, designed a self-powered, autonomous system that provides a network of covert sensors in the form of rocks. This system is suitable for wildlife, military and security applications in which area monitoring must be completed in a discreet manner.

Smart Rocks are capable of sensing temperature, acoustics, and motion, and of storing data while interfacing with other rocks, or nodes. These rocks are capable of connecting to an external network for data transfer. Network functionality is maintained in the event of a single node failure. The Smart Rocks project provides a modern approach to wide area surveillance that is autonomous, low cost and user-friendly.