Asynchronous simulation of a self-synchronized duty-cycling mechanism for mobile sensor networks

Abstract

In previous work we introduced a self-synchronized duty-cycling mechanism for mobile sensor networks with energy harvesting capabilities, inspired by the self-synchroned sleeping patterns that can be observed in real ant colonies. The focus of our previous study was mainly on swarm intelligence aspects of the proposed system. In contrast, in this paper we propose a more realistic version of the initial system. The proposed changes concern in particular the systems’ asynchronous simulation. Instead of exchanging information at the same time, in our new proposal sensor nodes wake up periodically based on their own internal clock and perform an update of their internal state based on the information received by their neighbors. In addition we use a more realistic mobility model and apply the system to scenarios where weather conditions vary over the area of deployment. The simulation results show that our asynchronous system also permits adaptive duty-cycling, and that the system is able to adapt to changing weather conditions.