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Dynamic spectrum allocation has become a key research activity in wireless communications field and in particular a key technology for "The Network of the Future" objective proposed in ICT Work Programme 2007.

Following these current trends towards dynamic spectrum allocation, the SENDORA project (started in January 2008 for 3 years) develops innovative techniques based on sensor networks, that will support the coexistence of licensed and unlicensed wireless users in a same area. The SENDORA project ideas stem from recent fundamental works on cognitive radio technology.

The capability to detect spectrum holes, without interfering with the primary network currently in use, is the actual major difficulty faced by the cognitive radio. The innovative concept proposed in SENDORA project consists in developing a "Sensor Network aided Cognitive Radio" technology which will allow to solve this issue, thanks to the introduction of sensor networks and associated networking capabilities.

The sensor network aided cognitive radio proposed and studied in SENDORA project will address many different advanced techniques. An analysis of the potential exploitation of these techniques will be proposed. First, scenarios of interest have been defined and provide the technical activities with requirements to cover. Different scenarios are proposed, corresponding to real needs, mainly identified by the potential integrators of the solutions. On the technical point of view, novel spectrum sensing techniques are proposed to identify spectrum holes. Corresponding information management and exploitation are studied to achieve the co-existence of cognitive radios with primary licensed technology without generating harmful interferences. The design, dimensioning and networking of the wireless sensor network is also deeply addressed. Finally, a proof-of-concept demonstration will be developed to assess the theoretical research.