Optimal Speed Scaling with a Solar Cell

TL;DR

This paper presents a polynomial-time algorithm for scheduling jobs on a speed-scalable processor powered by a solar cell, aiming to minimize the energy recharge rate needed for feasibility.

Contribution

It introduces the first efficient algorithm for optimal speed scaling in solar-powered sensors with discrete speed and power levels.

Findings

Algorithm efficiently computes optimal schedules.

Reduces energy harvesting requirements for sensor operation.

Applicable to systems with discrete speed/power configurations.

Abstract

We consider the setting of a sensor that consists of a speed-scalable processor, a battery, and a solar cell that harvests energy from its environment at a time-invariant recharge rate. The processor must process a collection of jobs of various sizes. Jobs arrive at different times and have different deadlines. The objective is to minimize the *recharge rate*, which is the rate at which the device has to harvest energy in order to feasibly schedule all jobs. The main result is a polynomial-time combinatorial algorithm for processors with a natural set of discrete speed/power pairs.