Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks - Microcontrollers, Wireless Communication Technologies, and Operating Systems: A Survey

The Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as a disruptive technology with tangible impact on citizens' lives and the way businesses are carried out. IoT lies upon deploying networks of connected devices that are able to acquire data (sensors) and act on it (actuators). Mostly, these devices are wirelessly connected, to promote ease of deployment, and form a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). To set an appropriate WSN, we need to consider the different existing hardware, topologies, and communication protocols, and pick a suitable fit. Yet, the latter depends mainly on the application type and the deployment ground. In this paper, we are surveying the different possible alternatives for deploying a real-world IoTWSN. We basically address the hardware aspect with an emphasis on microcontrollers, wireless communication, and the different plausible operating systems. Thiswork is driven by a real-worldWSN deployment in a smart building. The deployed WSN is integral to the design and operation of EMS (Energy-Management System) for Smart Buildings. As a consequence, energy efficiency constitutes another fundamental aspect that we consider while surveying plausible alternatives for deploying a WSN.