Controlled sink mobility for prolonging wireless sensor networks lifetime

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the advantages of using controlled mobility in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for increasing their lifetime, i.e., the period of time the network is able to provide its intended functionalities. More specifically, for WSNs that comprise a large number of statically placed sensor nodes transmitting data to a collection point (the sink), we show that by controlling the sink movements we can obtain remarkable lifetime improvements. In order to determine sink movements, we first define a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) analytical model whose solution determines those sink routes that maximize network lifetime. Our contribution expands further by defining the first heuristics for controlled sink movements that are fully distributed and localized. Our Greedy Maximum Residual Energy (GMRE) heuristic moves the sink from its current location to a new site as if drawn toward the area where nodes have the highest residual energy. We also introduce a simple distributed mobility scheme (Random Movement or RM) according to which the sink moves uncontrolled and randomly throughout the network. The different mobility schemes are compared through extensive ns2-based simulations in networks with different nodes deployment, data routing protocols, and constraints on the sink movements. In all considered scenarios, we observe that moving the sink always increases network lifetime. In particular, our experiments show that controlling the mobility of the sink leads to remarkable improvements, which are as high as sixfold compared to having the sink statically (and optimally) placed, and as high as twofold compared to uncontrolled mobility

Enhanced Energy Efficient Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network.

“…Genetic Algorithm based LEACH [LEACH-GA] is proposed [5], drawback of this protocol is, During Cluster Head Selection Process residual energy of the each node is not considered. The Intelligent Agent-based Routing [IAR] is proposed to develop the efficient data delivery [8]. In this Protocol chooses some sensors as agents.…”

“…Suppose the sink is static sensors around that sink are acts as convey nodes, so they deplete their energy quickly resulting energy holes. This problem [7][8][9][10][11][12] leads to an early disconnection of the network so sink is isolated from the other nodes because death of its neighboring nodes. Hence mobile sink is normally accepted as an effective way to remove this problem.…”

Extending the Network Lifetime of Wireless Sensor Networks Using Residual Energy Extraction—Hybrid Scheduling Algorithm

“…Various approaches for reducing the energy expenditure have been presented in literature; several papers minimize the transmitter power (a significant energy drain for WSN nodes) while maintaining connectivity by aggregation techniques [1,2], by using mobility of sinks [3,4]. Several routing protocols [5,6] showed significant improvements in the network lifetime for ad hoc networks (MANETs) and WSN by choosing routes that avoid nodes with low battery and by balancing the traffic load.…”

“…The power attenuation is dependent on the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. For relatively short distances, the propagation loss can be modeled as inversely proportional to d 2 , whereas for longer distances, the propagation loss can be modeled as inversely proportional to d 4 . In this simulation, the free space (power loss) channel models were used.…”

Improving the Performance of Challenged Networks with Controlled Mobility

“…Some forms of controlled mobility mechanisms have been notably studied in the context of DTNs, where specific nodes may be used as message ferries to enhance connectivity in networks with sparsely deployed nodes [16]. Likewise, wireless sensor networks may benefit from data sinks with controlled mobility for various performance aspects, such as network lifetime increase [17]. In this work, we particularly focus on swarming principles, a distributed form of controlled mobility for which local node interaction can engender desirable emergent behaviors [18].…”