Wireless data acquisition network and operating methods

A method of collecting data from wireless sensor units arranged in a network, the wireless sensor units being organized in chains of wireless sensor units, each chain of wireless sensor units including a terminal wireless sensor unit and intermediate wireless sensor units, the method comprising the steps of:

• initiating distribution of control signals to the wireless sensor units;
• acquiring data with the wireless sensor units by sensing one or more physical parameters;
• each of the wireless sensor units transmitting the acquired data in response to the control signals along at least one of the plural chains of wireless sensor units towards a corresponding one of the terminal wireless sensor units;
• each of the terminal wireless sensor units forwarding the acquired data from the wireless sensor units in the corresponding chain to at least one of plural backhaul units;
• and
• each of the backhaul units collecting and forwarding the acquired data from the terminal wireless sensor units towards a central computer.