Modern Clustering Techniques in Wireless Sensor Networks [chapter]

I.S. Akila, S.V. Manisekaran, R. Venkatesan
2017 Wireless Sensor Networks - Insights and Innovations  
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are employed in various applications from healthcare to military. Due to their limited, tiny power sources, energy becomes the most precious resource for sensor nodes in such networks. To optimize the usage of energy resources, researchers have proposed several ideas from diversified angles. Clustering of nodes plays an important role in conserving energy of WSNs. Clustering approaches focus on resolving the conflicts arising in effective data transmission. In
more » ... s chapter, we have outlined a few modern energy-efficient clustering approaches to improve the lifetime of WSNs. The proposed clustering methods are: (i) fuzzy-logic-based cluster head election, (ii) efficient sleep duty cycle for sensor nodes, (iii) hierarchical clustering, and (iv) estimated energy harvesting. Classical clustering approaches such as low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) and selected contemporary clustering methods are considered for comparing the performance of proposed approaches. The proposed modern clustering approaches exhibit better lifetime compared to the selected benchmarked protocols. A wireless sensor network consists of a set of spatially distributed autonomous sensor nodes to monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, pressure, etc., and to cooperatively pass their data through the network to a primary location called sink. The sink of a WSN collects data from the sensor nodes and reports the same to users through the Internet or through any private virtual network (PVN). By nature, WSNs inherit features and requirements of an ad hoc network. WSN belongs to the class of low range wireless personal area network (LPWPAN). A sensor node consists of a radio transceiver (which performs the role of both transmitter and receiver), a microcontroller, and an electronic circuit for interfacing with the associated sensors and an energy source (usually a battery or an embedded form of energy harvesting). The cost and size of sensor nodes show a significant degree of variation depending upon the nature of the applications. In many applications, sensor nodes demand self-organization due to the randomness present in uncontrolled, non-deterministic topologies. Depending upon the nature of applications, various categories of sensor nodes are provided for monitoring parameters such as temperature, moisture, sound, motion of objects, etc. In essence, sensor networks compensate for human efforts in inaccessible terrains and present more comfortable, smart snapshots of the environment. In the recent future, sensor networks would conquer an integral part of human life and make existing personal computers, mobile communication devices and other computing devices less popular. A sensor network may be composed of homogenous or heterogeneous sensor nodes. They may monitor either space or objects or interactions of these two. Today, sensor networks are employed in diversified fields such as battle field surveillance, medical diagnostics, precision agriculture, weather monitoring and home appliances control. Every sensor application demands its own set of requirements and characteristics. Some sensor applications employ reactors in the place of ordinary sensors to react to the events in an appropriate manner.
doi:10.5772/intechopen.70382 fatcat:ov5ytoc7efgtvk2xdckjszu7fm