Artificial Reconfigurable Wireless Network Optimization Based On Battery Levels

Abstract

A Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) was developed, along with a testbed that could evaluate the system under scrutiny on energy consumption parameters. The development of an artificial reconfigurable wireless network optimization routing protocol based on battery levels was created in a lab environment where certain variables were controllable. This study focused on measuring energy of a network based on different routing protocols. To capture data, physical batteries were replaced with a power source that was developed to capture the energy usage of each node in the system simultaneously. The development of a system that could test the energy consumed by a WSN was one part of the study, whilst the important part was to be able to analyse energy consumed by a network as a whole. Analysing a WSN by capturing data based on routing topology formed a conclusion based on data that was captured in the lab. Different packet sizes, TX power levels and routing protocols were tested in this dissertation on a custom developed testbed. Results did show a predictable outcome clearly indicating different energy consumptions per topology.