Asymptotics of Quickest Change Detection with an Energy Harvesting Sensor

In this paper, we consider non-Bayesian sequential change detection based on the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) algorithm employed by an energy harvesting sensor where the distributions before and after the change are assumed to be known. In a slotted discrete-time model, the sensor, exclusively powered by randomly available harvested energy, obtains a sample and computes the log-likelihood ratio of the two distributions if it has enough energy to sense and process a sample. If it does not have enough energy in a given slot, it waits until it harvests enough energy to perform the task in a future time slot. We derive asymptotic expressions for the expected detection delay (when a change actually occurs), and the asymptotic tail distribution of the run-length to a false alarm (when a change never happens). We show that when the average harvested energy (H̅) is greater than or equal to the energy required to sense and process a sample (E
_s
), standard existing asymptotic results for the CUSUM test apply since the energy storage level at the sensor is greater than E after a sufficiently long time. However, when the H̅<; E
_s
, the energy storage level can be modelled by a positive Harris recurrent Markov chain with a unique stationary distribution. Using asymptotic results from Markov random walk theory and associated nonlinear Markov renewal theory, we establish asymptotic expressions for the expected detection delay and asymptotic exponentiality of the tail distribution of the run-length to a false alarm in this non-trivial case. Numerical results are provided to support the theoretical results.