Network Lifetime Enhancement Using Genetic Algorithm

Major applications of Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are monitoring and tracking. The large numbers of sensors are deployed in remote and inaccessible places therefore deployment and maintenance should be easy and scalable. Sensors have limited battery backup as they are small in size. The energy is a critical factor in order to extend the lifetime of the network as nodes once deployed cannot be recharged as deployed in dangerous areas. Clustering or chain based techniques are generally used in WSNs inorder to reduce energy consumption of sensor nodes. In this paper we discussed clustering based and chain based routing protocols for WSNs. In cluster-based routing special nodes called cluster heads form a wireless backbone to the sink or Base Station. Each cluster heads collects data from the sensors belonging to its cluster and forwards it to the sink. In chain-based routing protocols chain is formed a node called leader node forwards the data to the Base Station. We propose and simulated a protocol in which chain formation is done by using genetic algorithm and then leader is elected which forwards data packet to BS. Simulation results shows that the proposed protocol significantly increase the total lifetime of the wireless sensor networks and has less average round time as compared to the LEACH, PEGASIS and CHIRON protocols. KeywordsWSNs, LEACH, PEGASIS, CHIRON, GA-CHIRON, Network Lifetime, Energy Efficiency, Average Round Time