Wireless sensor networks are made up of several sensors or nodes that measure conditions and supply data to a control system.

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or many companies, installing wireless technology inside factories, power plants, and nuclear facilities can be risky. Although wireless is cheaper than cable connections, the flow of information is not as reliable.

That may not be a big deal when you’re surfing the internet at home, but at a factory or power plant with automated control systems, even a five-second disruption could have serious consequences.

“A malfunction could cause a water tower to overflow,“ says John Buttles, a senior engineer at Idaho National Laboratory  (INL). “Or you could end up with the wrong colored pill in a bottle instead of aspirin.“

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