Performance evaluation of ZigBee-based sensor networks using empirical measurements

ZigBee is an emerging standard specifically designed for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPAN) with a focus on enabling the wireless sensor networks. It attempts to provide a low data rate, low power, and low cost wireless networking on the device-level communication. In this paper, we have established a realistic environment for the performance evaluation of the ZigBee wireless networks. Several sets of practical experiments are conducted to study its various features, including the 1) packet loss rate, and 2) transmission throughput. The results show that our developed ZigBee platforms could work well under multi-hop transmission over a long period of time.