Advancements and Challenges in IoT Simulators: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Network Engineering

Background:

• The Internet of Things (IoT) connects physical and digital worlds via interconnected devices.
• Advancements in wireless tech, computing, and mobile devices have accelerated IoT integration.
• Existing IoT simulator reviews often lack comprehensiveness, missing key development metrics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an in-depth review of existing and emerging IoT simulators.
• To focus on simulator capabilities, real-world applications, challenges, and future trends.
• To address identified gaps in IoT simulation research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic analysis of current IoT simulation literature.
• Evaluation of simulator capabilities for complex, large-scale IoT scenarios.
• Identification of research gaps concerning device mobility, energy models, SDN, scalability, security, renewable energy, and VANET integration.

Main Results:

• A lack of generic, versatile IoT simulators capable of handling diverse scenarios across domains.
• Significant gaps exist in simulating specific security threats like battery depletion attacks.
• Underrepresentation of renewable energy sources and insufficient integration with Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) simulations.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for advanced, adaptable IoT simulation tools.
• Future simulators must support a wider range of IoT applications and developmental requirements.
• Addressing identified gaps will enhance the development and deployment of robust IoT systems.