An algorithm for enhancing coverage and network lifetime in cluster-based Wireless Sensor Networks

Majority of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) clustering protocols in literature have focused on extending network lifetime and little attention has been paid to the coverage preservation as one of the QoS requirements along with network lifetime. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed to be integrated with clustering protocols to improve network lifetime as well as preserve network coverage in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks (HWSNs) where sensor nodes can have different sensing radii and energy attributes. The proposed algorithm works in proactive way to preserve network coverage and extend network lifetime by efficiently leveraging mobility to optimize the average coverage rate using only the nodes that are already deployed in the network. Simulations are conducted to validate the proposed algorithm by showing improvement in network lifetime and enhanced full coverage time with less energy consumptio