Distributed Algorithms for Maximizing the Lifetime of Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are emerging as a key enabling technology for applications domains such as military, homeland security, and environment. However, a major constraint of these sensors is their limited battery. In this dissertation we examine the problem of maximizing the duration of time for which the network meets its coverage objective. Since these networks are very dense, only a subset of sensors need to be in sense or on mode at any given time to meet the coverage objective, while others can go into a power conserving sleep mode. This active set of sensors is known as a cover. The lifetime of the network can be extended by shuffling the cover set over time. In this dissertation, we introduce the concept of a local lifetime dependency graph consisting of the cover sets as nodes with any two nodes connected if the corresponding covers intersect, to capture the interdependencies among the covers. We present heuristics based on some simple properties of this graph and show how they improve over existing algorithms. We also present heuristics based on other properties of this graph, new models for dealing with the solution space and a generalization of our approach to other graph problems

Learning automata-based solution to target coverage problem for directional sensor networks with adjustable sensing ranges

The extensive applications of directional sensor networks (DSNs) in a wide range of situations have attracted a great deal of attention. One significant problem linked with DSNs is target coverage, which primarily operate based on simultaneously observing a group of targets occurring in a set area, hence maximizing the network lifetime. As there are limitations to the directional sensors’ sensing angle and energy resource, designing new techniques for effectively managing the energy consumption of the sensors is crucial. In this study, two problems were addressed. First, a new learning automata-based algorithm is proposed to solve the target coverage problem, in cases where sensors have multiple power levels (i.e., sensors have multiple sensing ranges), by selecting a subset of sensor directions that is able to monitor all the targets. In real applications, targets may have different coverage quality requirements, which leads to the second; the priority-based target coverage problem, which has not yet been investigated in the field of study. In this problem, two newly developed algorithms based on learning automata and greedy are proposed to select a subset of sensor directions in a way that different coverage quality requirements of all the targets could be satisfied. All of the proposed algorithms were assessed for their performances via a number of experiments. In addition, the effect of each algorithm on maximizing network lifetime was also investigated via a comparative study. All algorithms are successful in solving the problems; however, the learning automata-based algorithms are proven to be superior by up to 18% comparing with the greedy-based algorithms, when considering extending the network lifetime

Maximizing lifetime of range-adjustable wireless sensor networks: a neighborhood-based estimation of distribution algorithm

Sensor activity scheduling is critical for prolonging the lifetime of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, most existing methods assume sensors to have one fixed sensing range. Prevalence of sensors with adjustable sensing ranges posts two new challenges to the topic: 1) expanded search space, due to the rise in the number of possible activation modes and 2) more complex energy allocation, as the sensors differ in the energy consumption rate when using different sensing ranges. These two challenges make it hard to directly solve the lifetime maximization problem of WSNs with range-adjustable sensors (LM-RASs). This article proposes a neighborhood-based estimation of distribution algorithm (NEDA) to address it in a recursive manner. In NEDA, each individual represents a coverage scheme in which the sensors are selectively activated to monitor all the targets. A linear programming (LP) model is built to assign activation time to the schemes in the population so that their sum, the network lifetime, can be maximized conditioned on the current population. Using the activation time derived from LP as individual fitness, the NEDA is driven to seek coverage schemes promising for prolonging the network lifetime. The network lifetime is thus optimized by repeating the steps of the coverage scheme evolution and LP model solving. To encourage the search for diverse coverage schemes, a neighborhood sampling strategy is introduced. Besides, a heuristic repair strategy is designed to fine-tune the existing schemes for further improving the search efficiency. Experimental results on WSNs of different scales show that NEDA outperforms state-of-the-art approaches. It is also expected that NEDA can serve as a potential framework for solving other flexible LP problems that share the same structure with LM-RAS

Joint Energy-Balanced and Full-Coverage Mechanism Using Sensing Range Control for Maximizing Network Lifetime in WSNs

[[abstract]]Coverage is an important issue that has been widely discussed in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, it is still a big challenge to achieve both the purposes of full coverage and energy balancing. This paper considers the area coverage problem for a WSN where each sensor has variable sensing radius. A Weighted Voronoi Diagram (WVD) is proposed as a tool for determining the responsible sensing region of each sensor node according to the remaining energy in a distributed manner. To maximize the network lifetime, techniques for balancing energy consumptions of sensors are further presented. Performance evaluation reveals that the proposed joint energy-balanced and full-coverage mechanism, called EBFC, outperforms the existing studies in terms of network lifetime and degree of energy balancing.[[conferencetype]]國際[[conferencedate]]20120704~20120706[[booktype]]紙本[[booktype]]電子版[[iscallforpapers]]Y[[conferencelocation]]Phuket, Thailan