Enhanced Coding-Aware Opportunistic Routing for Software-defined WSNs

The paper addresses prevailing challenges in software-defined wireless sensor networks (SDWSNs), particularly concerning high energy consumption and limited network longevity. An enhanced coding-aware opportunistic routing approach is proposed to tackle these issues. The research begins with enhancements to the SDWSN architecture, including the development of a refined controller structure. The integration of network coding technology is a pivotal innovation, aimed at bolstering link robustness and optimizing data transmission efficacy. This is complemented by the adoption of more sophisticated routing metrics, which contribute to a reduction in energy expenditure during transmissions. These enhancements lead to significant improvements over existing approaches. The simulation results suggest that, in comparison with conventional approaches, the proposed approach achieves energy consumption reduction of $21.5 \%$, and $20 \%$ extension of network lifetime.