Autonomous mobile bionanosensor networks for target tracking: A two-dimensional model

This paper designs and models autonomous mobile bionanosensor networks for target tracking. In the bionanosensor networks considered in this paper, nano-to-micro scale bionanosensors autonomously coordinate their movement through the use of two types of signaling molecules: attractants to recruit bionanosensors to a location in the environment, and repellents to spread bionanosensors from a location over the environment. A mathematical model of autonomous mobile bionanosensor networks is first developed for target tracking in a two-dimensional area. Numerical results are then presented to discuss the impact of attractants and repellents on target tracking performance, providing an insight into how bionanosensors may be designed and engineered to improve the target tracking performance. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.