UWB　systems　based　on　impulse　radio(IR-UWB)　have　the　potential　to　provide　very　low　duty　cycles　and　low　power　consumption.　Furthermore,　IR-UWB　has　the　advantages　of　being　able　to　carry　out　precision　localization　and　to　handle　multi-path　signals.　Consequently,　with　its　low　implementation　complexity,　it　is　an　ideal　candidate　for　sensor　network　applications.　In　an　IR-UWB　system,　pulse　generator　is　a　key　component　because　it　determines　the　frequency　characteristics　of　the　transmitter　and　affects　the　performance　of　the　UWB　system.　In　complement　to　what　has　been　reported　in　literature　so　far,　this　paper　gives　a　brief　overview　of　recently　developed　short　UWB　pulse　generation　techniques,　presents　analysis　of　peak　voltage　of　various　pulses　and　shows　the　bit-error　rate　(BER)　performance　of　non-sinusoidal　and　carrierbased　pulse　generators　for　sensor　network　applications.　©　2009　IEEE.