Dynamic cluster header selection with self-incentive for wireless sensor networks

Abstract

The unbalanced energy consumption among self-powered sensor nodes negatively impacts network lifetime. In order to overcome this limitation, we propose a new cluster header selection and cluster formation scheme. With our scheme, sensor nodes within a cluster autonomously decide in which time frame they will act as a cluster header based on the amount of energy consumption in the current round. In addition, they are conditionally allowed to switch their cluster header depending on signal strength of their current cluster header. Our simulation results show the proposed scheme increases the network lifetime and provides a well-balanced energy consumption pattern among the nodes in a cluster compared to previously proposed schemes.