Energy efficiency of MIMO-based Sensor Networks with a Cooperative Node Selection Algorithm

Low-cost and low-power sensor nodes forming Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have become suitable for a wide range of applications during recent years. These networks, due to their special functional characteristics, demand the implementation of energy-aware techniques in all layers. Recently a MIMO-based structure has been proposed to offer enhanced energy savings in WSNs under certain circumstances. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the dissipated power during a sensor node´s operation, to prove that as microelectronics develop the MIMO - based architecture will outperform the equivalent SISO structure for almost any case, in terms of energy efficiency. Moreover, we introduce a simple Cooperative Node (CN) Selection algorithm to achieve additional energy gains in the MIMO approach along with enhanced network lifetime. We examine the scalability of the algorithm on different channel conditions and varying network density, and investigate the effect of the power dissipation analysis on its efficiency.