Performance Analysis of Cooperative Communication in Wireless Sensor Network

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology is difficult to adopt in a wireless sensor network (WSN) due to its distinct characteristic features. By allowing the neighboring nodes of WSN to cooperate in accordance with principles of MIMO technology and it may be then referred to as virtual MIMO (V-MIMO) technique. This work presents a novel scheme that develops cooperation in a heterogeneous WSN. Under the considered simulation framework the results indicate that the total energy consumption in a WSN with 2 cooperative nodes is found to be better than single input single output (SISO) system by 9.5 mu J per unit distance. However, the trend does not continue when the number of cooperative node increased further.