MAC protocols for wireless sensor networks and their evaluation
Gertjan Halkes · Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) · 2009
The advent of small, and cheap sensors provides a wide range of measuring options. By making these sensors operate wirelessly we can now measure more than ever. However, wireless operation also provides new challenges. For example, how can we make these wireless sensors communicate effectively, i.e. without all the sensors trying to talk at the same time. This is the responsibility of the Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol. But the MAC protocol must also ensure energy-efficient operation to save precious battery power. In this thesis we present both new MAC-protocol ideas as well as research into evaluation methods for MAC protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks.