Long range-based low-power wireless sensor node

Abstract

Sensor nodes are the most significant part of a wireless sensor network that offers a powerful combination of sensing, processing, and communication. One major challenge while designing a sensor node is power consumption, as sensor nodes are generally battery-operated. In this study, we proposed the design of a low-power, long range-based wireless sensor node with flexibility, a compact size, and energy efficiency. Furthermore, we improved power performance by adopting an efficient hardware design and proper component selection. The Nano Power Timer Integrated Circuit is used for power management, as it consumes nanoamps of current, resulting in improved battery life. The proposed design achieves an off-time current of 38.17309 nA, which is tiny compared with the design discussed in the existing literature. Battery life is estimated for spreading factors (SFs), ranging from SF7 to SF12. The achieved battery life is 2.54 years for SF12 and 3.94 years for SF7. We present the analysis of current consumption and battery life. Sensor data, received signal strength indicator, and signal-to-noise ratio are visualized using the ThingSpeak network.

Keywords

• long range (lora)
• low power
• sensor node
• spreading factor (sf)
• timer