Delay-Aware MAC Protocol for Wireless Sensor and Actor Networks in Smart Grid

The conventional electric grid is converting in to the new emerging smart grid by utilizing information and communication technologies. The smart grid allows both the utilities and consumers to monitor and manage energy consumption effectively with the help of wireless sensor and actor networks (WSANs). WSANs have large number of low-power, low-cost, and multi-functional wireless sensor and actor nodes. The wireless sensor nodes collect the data from the physical condition of environment, while actor nodes perform different tasks according to the application requirements. For the monitoring and controlling of smart grid assets, WSANs can be considered as potential tools having the capability of low cost, high latency, and flexibility. In smart grid environment, WSANs have the problem of delay in channel access due to packet collisions. In this research work, we compare the performance results of various medium access control protocols in order to analyze which one among them is the best with respect to better throughput and minimum delay for WSANs in the smart grid environment.