RDEC: Routing Decisions through Energy-Cost Estimation for IIoT and IWSNs in SDN-Managed Industry 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution has brought about automation and a shift from wireless sensor networks (WSN) to the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), resulting in data-oriented decision-making. However, processing large amounts of data and relying on batteries can lead to communication failure, process disruptions, and even catastrophic disasters. To address this, energy-aware smart communication protocols are critical that prolong the lifespan of devices. This paper proposes a novel energy-cost-based routing protocol called RDEC: routing decisions through energy-cost estimation, which utilizes software-defined networks (SDNs) to centralize routing path decision-making. The RDEC algorithm considers the energy required to transmit data and the average battery consumption of intermediate nodes, resulting in a significant reduction in battery consumption by up to six times compared to existing solutions. Furthermore, the proposed approach reduces transmission time by over 50% and doubles the throughput over previous routing methods. Overall, the proposed RDEC algorithm increases the communication lifespan of battery-constrained devices while ensuring connectivity. In summary, the proposed RDEC algorithm provides an effective solution to address the challenges of energy consumption and communication failures in small battery-dependent devices, making it a significant contribution to the field of Industry 4.0.