An Optimized WSN Design for Latency-Critical Smart Grid Applications

Mounib Khanafer,Hussein T Mouftah,Irfan Al-Anbagi

doi:10.1155/2017/5274715

Abstract

The growing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) systems such as the smart grid, Body Area Networks (BANs), and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is driving Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) systems to the limit in terms of abilities and performance. WSNs were initially designed for low power, low data rate, and latency-tolerant applications. However, this paradigm is changing because of the nature of the new applications. Therefore, instead of only focusing on power-efficient WSN design, researchers and industries are now developing Quality of Service (QoS) protocols for WSNs. In addition to that, latency- and reliability-critical protocol designs are also becoming significantly important in WSNs. In this paper, we present an overview of some important smart grid latency-critical applications and highlight WSNs implementation challenges for these smart grid applications. Furthermore, we develop and evaluate two novel optimization models that solve for the optimum values of the end-to-end latency and power consumption in a clustered WSN given lower bounds on reliability and other network parameters.

Highlights

Internet of Things (IoT) systems significantly rely on sensors and sensor networks for their successful operation
We present an overview of some important smart grid latency-critical applications and highlight Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) implementation challenges for these applications
We present and evaluate two novel optimization models that find the optimum values of the end-to-end latency and power consumption in a clustered WSN given certain bounds on reliability and other network parameters

Summary

Introduction

Internet of Things (IoT) systems significantly rely on sensors and sensor networks for their successful operation. The IEEE 802.15.4 (or 802.15.4 hereafter) standard [1] outlines the features and the operating conditions of the physical layer (PHY) and the Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer of the Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks (LR-WPAN). It is the main standard used in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). We can rely on the 802.15.4 standard for developing an IoT framework using WSNs. WSNs are built from small, sensor nodes that can monitor and collect data (temperature, vibration, motion, etc.), process that data, and communicate it wirelessly to a sink node or a Base Station (BS)

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