An Environmental Monitoring Network with AODVjr-PB Routing Algorithm

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a practical scheme for an environmental monitoring network using an AODVjr-PB routing algorithm and the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol. Based on AODV junior (AODVjr) routing, we designed a novel routing algorithm: AODVjr accompanied by a piggyback mechanism (AODVjr-PB). In AODVjr-PB, the data packet (DATA) was encapsulated in the Route Request packet (RREQ) during propagation of RREQ from its source to the destination. In addition, the acknowledgement packet (ACK) was packaged in the Route Reply packet (RREP) when RREP is transferred from its destination to the source. In this way, the communication overhead was significantly reduced. The MAC protocol of our network was the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, which is suitable for building wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We deployed a real WSN, each node in the network consisted of a single chip microcomputer (SCM) with an 8051 core, several sensors, an RF module, and four AA batteries. We further employed a blacklist table to test the large-scale network performance in an indoor environment. The experimental results prove that our design outperforms the network with AODVjr routing algorithm in terms of transmission delay, delivery success rate, and data rate.