OSR: Advancing Multi-Hop Routing for LoRaWAN Mesh Networks in Maritime Scenarios

Reliable data acquisition and transmission from ocean-deployed buoys are crucial for maritime applications. However, wireless data transmission in such contexts faces significant challenges due to limited buoy battery capacity, harsh weather conditions, and potential disruptions from maritime vessels. LoRaWAN technology presents a promising solution due to its low power consumption and long-range communication capabilities. Multi-hop routing can further enhance network efficiency by enabling data relaying between buoys. However, the standard LoRaWAN framework lacks native support for multi-hop routing. Addressing this limitation, this paper presents a novel multi-hop routing protocol called OSR specifically designed for LoRaWAN mesh networks deployed in maritime environments. The protocol’s effectiveness is evaluated through a simulation model that accurately reflects the detrimental effects of severe weather on data transmission. Key performance metrics, such as packet delivery ratio, end-to-end latency, and energy consumption are analysed. The results underscore the superiority of OSR over the conventional GRP under realistic marine channel conditions.