Throughput analysis of fading sensor networks with regular and random topologies

We present closed-form expressions of the average link throughput for sensor networks with a slotted ALOHA MAC protocol in Rayleigh fading channels. We compare networks with three regular topologies in terms of throughput, transmit efficiency, and transport capacity. In particular, for square lattice networks, we present a sensitivity analysis of the maximum throughput and the optimum transmit probability with respect to the signal-to-interference ratio threshold. For random networks with nodes distributed according to a two-dimensional Poisson point process, the average throughput is analytically characterized and numerically evaluated. It turns out that although regular networks have an only slightly higher average link throughput than random networks for the same link distance, regular topologies have a significant benefit when the end-to-end throughput in multihop connections is considered.