MEGAN: Multipurpose Energy-Efficient, Adaptable, and Low-Cost Wireless Sensor Node for the Internet of Things

In this paper, we present the design of a new sensor node, named Multipurpose EnerGy-efficient Adaptable low-cost sensor Node (MEGAN), with all the desired features such as reconfigurability, flexibility, energy efficiency, and low-cost required to build the Internet of Things (IoT). Apart from the ability to interface a maximum of 32 different sensors and actuators, MEGAN allows a user to choose the desired communication module, depending on the required range of communication. We design a power management circuit to extend the lifetime of the resource-constrained sensor node. Additionally, it has an integrated recharging circuit on board, which can use the energy harvested from any unregulated energy source. MEGAN combats a major drawback of application-specific sensor nodes, because of the integration of switches and a programming port. The flexibility of MEGAN, with respect to the integration of any sensor or actuator, makes it a multipurpose adaptable sensor node. The analysis of the lifetime, received signal strength indicator, packet delivery ratio, adaptability, and reliability of MEGAN under different operating conditions establish the energy efficiency and superiority of its hardware design.