A Study on Energy Model Prototyping in Various Simulators of WSN

Abstract

Simulators are used to abstract the real hardware behaviors and proceed the research more economically. Various simulators of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) are used to access the performance and transmission processes involved in WSN. Each of the simulators has its own model to support the protocol stacks of physical layer and data layer, routing algorithms, topology control. This decade issue of Energy Engineering in WSN is getting the growing attention now days. This paper is to study and compare the various Energy Model support in the simulators of WSN with the following details of features, configuration setup, data structures, result traces, monitor outputs, debugging facilities, libraries and utilities and GUI support to explain the usage. Wide range of simulators is considered for the study; the classification of simulators with the key features is briefed with their model architectures. This paper will be the unique guide for any researcher who works on the energy relevant studies in WSN field to choose the proper tool and learn its I. Introduction It is highly expensive to study the wireless sensor network behavior in the real infrastructure setup. Like any other discipline WSN behaviors are also depicted in various simulation mediums. WSN has its applications in different domains like health care, environment study, military, intelligent homes, infrastructure management, and Traffic intelligence system. The initial level application development and study of performance in diverse WSN system with their distinguishing features like topology, propagation delays, transmission methods, data aggregations, data packet details, algorithms used to determine routing, different communication layers need the simulation system and test beds for validating and testing(1). Ample studies are getting conducted by the academicians, research groups and the industry experts in this discipline. The critical part is to choose the right simulation platform for the research. Usually, the decisions are taken by considering the models supported (nodes, communication layers, events, power etc.) and the features provided (tracing, GUI support, Configuration possibilities, shortcoming, debugging, graph generation facilities) with any simulators. The second part is to minimize the learning curve of the simulators for the researchers(2). This paper is going to be the guide post for the WSN researchers to choose the simulation medium for their research in the energy engineering discipline. This paper attempts to classify clearly the simulators along with the list of features and architecture of simulators' models for better understanding. The limitations are discussed in detail to help the choice for the researcher's study. At the initial stage of WSN, the simulators are extended from the conventional network simulators but with the support of the WSN specific protocols and mechanisms of sensors like NS2. Now a days WSN specific simulators are getting released where the clearly defined WSN architecture is depicted in the simulation medium as well like SensorSim, SENSE. Herewith we first define the various simulation mediums and classify them (3).