Adaptation of 6LoWPAN to Ship Area Sensor Networks with wired Ethernet backbone and performance analysis

In this paper, we proposed SASN (Ship Area Sensor Networks) model which is integration of wired backbone network (Ethernet) and wireless sensor networks (IPv6 over Low-power Wireless Personal Area Networks, 6LoWPAN). The proposed integrated network model has some limitation compared to sensor networks which is composed of only wired networks because of poor RF environment of inner ship area. However, if SASN model is adapted to ship, it helps to monitor the status of the work circumstance and various equipment more efficiently than only wired sensor networks because of independency from network line. We described characteristics of 6LoWPAN in detail and check the suitability of SASN model to ship based on characteristics of 6LoWPAN. In addition, we did performance analysis through simulation. From simulation result, we showed that proposed SASN model which is composed of Ethernet backbone and 6LoWPAN is possible to be adapted to ship.