The Impact of Network Topologies and Radio Duty Cycle Mechanisms on the RPL Routing Protocol Power Consumption

The Internet of Things (IoT) has witnessed a significant surge in adoption, particularly through the utilization of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), which comprise small internet-connected devices. These deployments span various environments and offer a multitude of benefits. However, the widespread use of battery-powered devices introduces challenges due to their limited hardware resources and communication capabilities. In response to this, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has developed the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-power and Lossy Networks (RPL) to address the unique requirements of such networks. Recognizing the critical role of RPL in maintaining high performance, this paper proposes a novel approach to optimizing power consumption. Specifically, it introduces a developed sensor motes topology integrated with a Radio Duty Cycling (RDC) mechanism aimed at minimizing power usage. Through rigorous analysis, the paper evaluates the power efficiency of this approach through several simulations conducted across different network topologies, including random, linear, tree, and elliptical topologies. Additionally, three distinct RDC mechanisms—CXMAC, ContikiMAC, and NullRDC—are investigated to assess their impact on power consumption. The findings of the study, based on a comprehensive and deep analysis of the simulated results, highlight the efficiency of ContikiMAC in power conservation. This research contributes valuable insights into enhancing the energy efficiency of RPL-based IoT networks, ultimately facilitating their widespread deployment and usability in diverse environments.