TreeDMA: a hybrid MAC/routing solution for small-scale wireless networks

Abstract

Vehicle-based networks need energy-efficient communication to extend the battery lifetime, which subsequently extends the mission time of the node. We observe that these kinds of networks operate under different assumptions than traditional static sensor networks. The main difference is that these are small-scale networks. This motivates the need for a protocol that is optimized for such scenarios. To handle the communication, we introduce a combined MAC and routing protocol, TreeDMA, that uses a contention-free MAC in conjunction with beaconing and overhearing. We show through simulation that for these kinds of networks, the energy consumption and latency is comparable to an “ideal” omniscient protocol and superior to traditional layered protocols.