A Simulation Study of IEEE 802.15.4 Sensor Networks in Industrial Applications by System-Level Modeling

This paper presents a SystemC-based system-level modeling framework for wireless sensor networks. Benefit from the advantages of SystemC in the aspect of hardware and software co-simulation, this modeling framework allows the performance evaluation of sensor networks at system-level with elaborate sensor node models. It is used to study an industrial application, in which an IEEE 802.15.4 sensor network based on MICAz motes is deployed to achieve the active control of the vibrations in an automotive system. The simulation results (packet delivery rate, packet delivery latency and power consumption) provide a fundamental understanding of this application for the system designers.