Intermittent Opportunistic Routing Components for the INET Framework

Abstract

Intermittently-powered wireless sensor networks (WSNs) use energy harvesting and small energy storage to remove the need for battery replacement and to extend the operational lifetime. However, an intermittently-powered forwarder regularly turns on or off, which requires alternative networking solutions. Opportunistic routing (OR) is a potential cross-layer solution for this novel application, but due to the interaction with the energy storage, the operation of these protocols is highly dynamic. To compare protocols and components in like-for-like scenarios we propose module interfaces for MAC, routing and discovery protocols, that enable clear separation of concerns and good interchangeability. We also suggest some candidates for each of the protocols based on our own implementation and research.