Datasheet vs. Real World: A Look on Sensor Node Energy Consumption

Energy and run time are mayor concerns in wireless sensor networks. Reliable information about the energy consumption is needed to be able to build a network and tune its application. In this paper we take a look on the energy consumption of the Texas Instruments eZ430-Chronos, an MSP430 based wireless sensor node, and compare it to the manufacturers datasheet. The measurements show how reliable these specifications are and which consequences should be taken.