Improving the lifetime and reliability of wireless sensor networks using fault tolerant clustering and multipath routing

Abstract

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) comprises a group of small sensor nodes energized by small non-replaceable battery. In recent years, WSNs have become indispensable in many applications like military surveillance, forest fire detection, habitat monitoring and environmental monitoring. In many of these applications, the sensor nodes are functioning in an unattended environment. Hence, to extend the overall operating lifetime of the network, it is essential to optimize the energy consumption of the sensor nodes. Due to the deployment in an unattended wireless environment and due to the presence of limited batteries, the sensor nodes are subjected to faults. The faults and congestion in the sensor nodes affect the data transfer reliability requirements of many mission critical applications. In recent years, many solutions such as clustering, fault tolerant multipath routing and newlinecongestion control have been proposed to enhance the network lifetime and the data transfer reliability. In this research work, three algorithms, namely, Zone based Energy aware Fault tolerant Clustering with Multi-hop Routing (ZEFCMR), Fault Tolerant Clustering and MultiPath Routing (FTCMPR), and Congestion Control with MultiPath Traffic Distribution (CCMPTD) are proposed to improve the network lifetime and the data transfer reliability in WSNs. newline newline