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Development trends of intelligent wireless sensor networks: Distributed self-organizing wireless sensor networks (DWSN–distributed wireless sensor networks) represent an emerging and cutting-edge research area that attracts significant international attention; it involves a high degree of interdisciplinary integration. The so-called distributed autonomous wireless sensor network (given the current level of technology and future developments, we refer to distributed autonomous wireless sensor networks as “intelligent wireless sensor networks”) consists of a large number of inexpensive, small or micro-sized integrated sensor nodes deployed within a monitoring area. These nodes work together to continuously sense and monitor various environmental conditions or target objects in real time. The information collected is processed intelligently using embedded systems, and then transmitted to user terminals through a random, self-organizing wireless communication network via multi-hop relaying, thereby truly realizing the concept of “computing everywhere”. Intelligent wireless sensor networks integrate sensing technology, embedded computing technology, modern networking technology, wireless communication technology, and distributed intelligent information processing technology. Research on sensor networks follows a systematic development approach; therefore, it is necessary to integrate modern advanced microelectronics technology, microfabrication techniques, system-on-chip SOC design technologies, nanomaterial technologies, modern information and communication technologies, and computer network technologies. This integration is aimed at achieving smaller or more miniature sizes, higher levels of integration, greater functionality, better system organization, and networking capabilities. In particular, it enables the development of ultra-low power consumption system designs specific to sensor networks. Intelligent wireless sensor networks can operate for extended periods without human intervention, and they hold significant scientific research value, great practical utility, and broad market prospects in many fields such as national defense, industry and agriculture, urban management, biomedicine, environmental monitoring, disaster relief, counter-terrorism, and remote control of hazardous areas. Due to its great value, many countries and research institutions such as the United States, Japan, and Western Europe have invested heavily to launch numerous research projects on intelligent wireless sensor networks. BusinessWeek believes that sensor networks are one of the four major high-tech industries of the future worldwide. In 2003, when the American magazine Technology Review listed the top ten emerging technologies of the future, intelligent wireless sensor networks were ranked as the first such technology.