Calibration and synchronization
of large-scale low-cost sensor networks
New Scenario

Large scale sensor deployment in the distribution networks
New Energetic Scenario - New Applications
State Estimation
Topology Detection
Monitoring
Need for large-scale distributed sensing
Challenges
- Low cost / low accuracy sensors
- Communication constraints
- Scalability of the monitoring infrastructure
2. Possible issues...
-
Low accuracy
-
Low precision

3. Due to...
-
Systematic measurement error
-
Synchronization error
-
Sensors parametric uncertainty
Similar Problem: Large scale WSN
1. Used for...
- State estimation
- Monitoring and control
Solution: Sensor calibration / sync errors compensation

Averaging useless!!
Distributed sensor blind calibration*


Effect of systematic errors when estimating distances

*no dependence on controlled stimuli/reference/high-fidelity groundtruth data
Sync Error Compensation

GPS
GPS
Low Cost Sensor
Low Cost Sensor
Low Cost Sensors clock affected by systematic (constant) sync error
Compensation by leveraging on error model
Problem Formulation
Measurement model (at time instant t)
where
- y, measurement
- x, state
- H, meas. matrix
- w, offset error (constant over time)
- e, random noise ~
Collecting a series of measurements (from t to t+T)
Then,
(linearized power flow model)

Solver/Solution characteristics
1. Scalable: possibility to easily adapt the solution to networks changing in size
2. Recursive: capability to adapt the solution as new measurements arrive (on-line)
3. Low Communication Requirements: minimum exchange of information needed in order to perform the compensation
What do we need?
A concrete and consistent measurement model
the closer the model* to the reality the better and reliable the calibration
Real data to test the algorithm
validate the effectiveness of the algorithm for its practical implementation
*blind calibration needs reliable model
Algorithm Structure
Collect data
Data cleaning and processing
Offset estimation
(Error model)
Go to
state estimation
&
control
Sensors Calibration
Logs & statistical report

Sensor calibration and synchronization
By marco todescato
Sensor calibration and synchronization
Presentation to briefly present issues and approach to sensor calibration
- 162