Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTN) are mobile networks specifically designed to operate in challenging wireless environments where connectivity is not guaranteed, and various issues such as frequent disconnections, long delivery delays, low delivery rates, and high error rates are common. One of the major problems of DTN networks is limited energy resources which impose strict constraints on the operational lifespan of DTN nodes. To solve these problems, we propose the adoption of a long-term strategy for energy management, based on the exploitation of renewable energies and the improvement of the HRTT topological architecture through the direct integration of renewable energy sources within DTN nodes. Indeed, DTN nodes powered by renewable energy resources, such as solar energy, have the potential to recharge themselves, extending their operational lifespan, increasing their storage and transmission capabilities, and reducing dependence on non-renewable energy resources. In this article, we assess the impact of limited energy resources and renewable energy resources like solar panels on the energy performance of DTN networks in the context of the Hierarchical Routing Tree Topology (HRTT), taking into account the average remaining energy as a performance metric. The evaluation of energy performance and the implementation of the HRTT topology are carried out using the ONE (Opportunistic Network Environment) simulator. According to the simulation results, the average remaining energy of nodes using renewable resources is significantly higher compared to the initial energy levels of nodes for all DTN protocols adopted by the nodes in the context of the HRTT topology. However, the average remaining energy of nodes using limited resources is lower compared to their initial energy levels for all DTN protocols adopted by the nodes in the context of the HRTT topology.
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