An efficient implementation method for topology control algorithms in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) face numerous challenges related to energy consumption and maintaining connectivity, while traditional topology control mechanisms are often constrained by the limited computational capabilities of nodes and decision-making based on local information. This paper proposes a standardized experimental environment that enables the deployment, integration, and fair comparison of topology control algorithms in WSNs on a unified SDWSN (Software-Defined WSNs) simulation platform built upon OMNeT++/INET. The proposed framework is designed to support the flexible execution of algorithms at a centralized controller, thereby effectively leveraging global network state information and reducing computational overhead at sensor nodes. A key contribution of this study lies in the development of a standardized execution platform built on the OMNeT++/INET environment, which supports direct performance evaluation and comparison of multiple approaches under a consistent simulation scenario and unified set of metrics, as opposed to the heterogeneous setups used in previous works. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methods significantly improve network performance, with packet delivery ratios increasing to approximately 75 - 80%, throughput reaching nearly 100 kbps, latency reduced to 40 - 45 ms, and average energy consumption lowered to below 280 mJ. These findings confirm the study’s contribution in bridging the gap toward a standardized evaluation platform and facilitating future research on topology optimization in SDWSNs.