Packet length and transmission power adaptation for energy-efficiency in low-power wireless communications

We analyze how packet length and transmission power influence energy per transmitted bit of data in low-power communication between two neighbouring wireless sensor network nodes. We find that optimal transmission power level and packet length exist for every channel condition and control data overhead that minimize energy per transmitted bit of data. Compared to transmissions of short packets with maximal available transmission power level our approach shows more than 60 % of energy savings, when CC1000 transceiver is used.