An efficient and modular method for the simulation of real-time wireless embedded systems

Abstract

This paper describes a novel method to execute embedded realtime C code within the OMNeT++ network simulator and its wireless extension MiXiM. This method greatly reduces the development and debugging effort of wireless embedded systems, while also significantly improving the accuracy and utility of network simulations. The method is highly modular: it is possible to isolate every layer of the embedded communication protocols stack and combine it with simulation modules, or to combine all of the embedded protocols together. The first mechanism increases the simulation speed and enables the evaluation of novel algorithms in a variety of configurations, while the second mechanism allows debugging the embedded system with a high granularity. Executing the embedded code in the OMNeT++ simulator gives access to a fast simulation kernel with powerful simulation configuration semantics, large simulation model libraries and extensive data collection and analysis tools. This method is now used to develop novel systems in industrial and public projects: public transportation safety, inventory tracking and monitoring of composite structures.