Power consumption analysis of a Wi-Fi-based IoT device

Abstract

The Internet of Things is a dynamic global network infrastructure consisting of interconnected smart devices with identification, sensing, data processing, and communication capabilities. It provides an intelligent ecosystem for the information society by enabling advanced services, standards, and platforms. Due to the growing market for smart devices with IP connectivity, several companies introduced low power Wi-Fi products optimized for IoT applications. Because Wi-Fi has established itself as one of the most popular wireless network technologies offering connectivity, has brought many advantages for IP enabled IoT devices (e.g., high data rate, mobility, built-in IP-network compatibility, easy integration with existing infrastructure), and has generated momentum in the IoT industry. However, since Wi-Fi was originally developed for high bandwidth applications targeting the consumer electronics market, it was not considered as a feasible technology for IoT applications. Wi-Fi-based IoT devices are typically battery-operated. Their wireless communication modules consume a relatively high amount of energy in case data needs to be sent a long distance, thus battery lifetime requirement for these devices remains a primary concern. Such small devices should transmit at high efficiency to conserve battery power, and they are required to sustain reliable operation for years on batteries even in the presence of heavy interference. Considering the limitations of battery power and long operational lifetime, the development of energy-efficient systems for these devices is an important issue. In this study, we analyzed the power consumption of a Wi-Fi IoT device deployed in field settings, where power infrastructure is inaccessible. We investigated how the device’s Wi-Fi module influences the power consumption in the IoT environment. In our experimental results, we observed that Wi-Fi-based IoT devices are still power-hungry and can operate well with low power consumption by using energy-optimized power modes..