Performance Analysis and Modeling of an Indoor IoT-Oriented Energy Harvesting Optical Wireless Sensor Network

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are poised to play a pivotal role in enabling smart indoor environments as part of the evolution from the Internet of Things to the Internet of Everything in 6G systems. However, this transition faces critical challenges, notably radio frequency (RF) spectrum congestion and the limited lifespan of battery-powered sensor nodes. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel hybrid network architecture that integrates Optical wireless communication with energy harvesting capabilities. Since WSNs typically require low data rates, the system leverages photovoltaic technology to function dually as optical photodetectors and energy harvesters. We model performance aspects of the proposed system, including signal-to-noise ratio, power consumption, and the amount of energy that can be harvested in a typical indoor environment. This approach not only alleviates RF spectrum congestion but also significantly extends the operational lifetime of sensor nodes, offering a sustainable solution for next-generation smart environments.