Error control schemes in solar energy harvesting wireless sensor networks

Abstract

To scavenge the energy from the environment and extend the network lifetime, some wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been equipped with energy harvesters recently. However, the variable amount of environmental energy can affect the reliability of energy harvesting wireless sensor networks (EH-WSNs). In addition, data transmission over a wireless media is vulnerable. Hence, utilizing suitable error control schemes are necessary to improve the reliability. Regarding this point, Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) and Cooperative ARQ (C-ARQ) schemes are applied in this generation of WSNs. Conventional ARQ as well as C-ARQ scheme are considered and examined through simulation. A comparative analysis of these two schemes in terms of energy consumption, energy efficiency and reliability is provided. This analysis shows that C-ARQ is the more appropriate error control scheme in EH-WSNs to manage the variable environmental energy and improve the reliability and energy efficiency.