Performance Evaluation of a Mesh-Topology LoRa Network

Area of Science:

• Networking
• Wireless Communication
• Internet of Things (IoT)

Background:

• Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) are crucial for IoT, with Long-Range Wide-Area Networks (LoRaWANs) gaining traction due to their robust physical layer (LoRa).
• Current LoRaWAN protocols are limited to single-hop communication, restricting gateway coverage and increasing power consumption for remote devices.
• The absence of standardized multi-hop LoRa-based networks presents a research opportunity to extend LPWAN capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a complementary mesh networking solution for LoRaWAN, named LoRaMesh.
• To investigate design choices for a LoRa-based mesh network that preserves low-power characteristics while ensuring reliable data routing.
• To assess the impact of mesh networking on packet delivery ratios for devices at the edge of network coverage.

Main Methods:

• Development of an ns-3 simulation model for the proposed LoRaMesh network.
• Simulation of LoRaMesh under various network scenarios with differing densities and device distributions.
• Analysis of packet delivery ratios, particularly for nodes located far from the central gateway.

Main Results:

• LoRaMesh demonstrated a significant increase in packet delivery ratio for nodes distant from the gateway in dense network configurations.
• For nodes beyond 5.8 km, the average packet delivery ratio improved from 40.2% to 73.78%.
• The simulations validated the feasibility of a mesh-type LPWAN utilizing the LoRa physical layer.

Conclusions:

• The proposed LoRaMesh network effectively extends the reach and reliability of LoRaWAN by integrating mesh capabilities.
• This mesh approach maintains the low-power advantages of LPWANs while overcoming single-hop limitations.
• The findings support the potential for future research and optimization of mesh-based LPWANs using the LoRa physical layer.