ZigBee and Z-Wave allow you to create mesh networks in everyday life.
Many single-chip WSN systems are equipped with additional modules, which can include additional electronic circuits, software for stacked networks, and antennas.
OEMs can use these add-on components to make their products WSN-compatible without the need for in-depth RF expertise or extensive product testing.
Many wireless sensor network devices are based on IEEE 802.15.4 chipsets.
At the consumer WSN networking level, ZigBee competes with Zensys' Z+Wave and SmartLabs' Insteon.
ZigBee-compatible products use the IEEE 802.15.4 physical radio standard. They operate worldwide in the unlicensed frequency bands of 2.4 GHz (globally), 915 MHz (in North and South America) and 868 MHz (in Europe).
The transmission range is from 10 to 100 m, depending on the transmitter power and the conditions in which it is used.
The ZigBee Alliance includes many of the largest companies working in the field of semiconductor electronics: Freescale, Philips, Samsung, Texas Instruments and others.
Ember, the original developer of ZigBee technology, recently signed an agreement with STMicroelectronics to jointly develop a full range of next-generation ZigBee-based solutions, including hardware, applications and software.
Intel has joined the rival Z-Wave Alliance, which also develops home automation systems, and made a strategic investment in Zensys, which developed the Z+Wave wireless mesh networking technology around which the Z-Wave Alliance was built.
Intel Capital also invested in fellow Alliance member iControl (Palo Alto, Calif.), a developer of software and services platforms to lower the cost barriers to the use of remote monitoring systems in homes and businesses.
Z-Wave is a 900 MHz wireless technology currently being marketed as an alternative to ZigBee for automation of lighting systems and home appliances.
In 2005, Zensys launched its ZW0201 chip for use in Z-Wave systems, arguing that its higher performance at a lower price would make Z-Wave the de facto standard for home automation.
Steve Troyer, vice president of marketing at Zensys, said its partners want to promote the use of Z-Wave and its RF mesh networking and control capabilities in Intel's Viiv entertainment platform.
«We're working together to develop third-party applications around Z-Wave,» Troyer said.
Troyer also said Intel doesn't see «competition from ZigBee because Zensys has made a significant leap in the market.»
Bob Heile, chairman of the Alliance ZigBee claims that Zensys's developments can only be used in a limited range of applications.
Based on materials from the AutomatedBuildings website