Position-Based Clustering: An Energy-Efficient Clustering Hierarchy for Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

A clustering algorithm is a key technique used to increase the scalability and lifetime of the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In this paper, we propose and evaluate a distributed energy-efficient clustering algorithm for heterogeneous WSNs, which is called Position-Based Clustering (PBC). This protocol is an improvement of LEACH-E. In PBC, the cluster-heads are elected by using probabilities based on the ratio between residual energy of each node and the remaining energy of the network. It uses a 2-level hierarchy by selecting an intermediate cluster head for data transmission. Moreover, it uses a new technique for cluster formation based not only on the received signal strength of the cluster head’s advertisement but also on its position. Simulations show that the proposed algorithm increases the lifetime of the whole network and performs better than LEACH, LEACH-E and SEP.