This document proposes using self-organizing maps (SOMs), an unsupervised artificial neural network technique, to categorize sensory data from wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in order to conserve battery power. The proposed system trains a 2x3 SOM on a base station node to categorize data from active sensor nodes. After training, the SOM defines categories that sensor nodes then transmit instead of raw data, reducing transmissions and saving up to 48.5% of battery power. Evaluation of the approach considers battery savings versus number of training samples and transmission interval.