OPEN: Optimized Path Planning Algorithm with Energy Efficiency and Extending Network - Lifetime in WSN

In Wireless Sensors Networks (WSNs), researcher's primary focus is on energy preservation and prolonging network lifetime. More energy resources are required in case of remote applications of WSNs, where during active network stage some of the nodes die early, that shortens the network lifetime and decreases the stability of the network. It is mainly caused due to the non-optimal Cluster Heads (CHs) selection based on the single criterion and uneven distribution of energy. We propose a new distributed clustering protocol for both homogeneous and heterogeneous environments, named Optimized path planning algorithm with energy efficiency and extending network lifetime in WSN (OPEN). In the proposed protocol, we use timer value concept for efficient CH selection based on multiple parameters, e.g., residual energy, the average distance from its neighbors, and node density. Simulation results prove that OPEN performs better than the existing schemes regarding the network lifetime, throughput, and stability. The results explicitly explain the cluster head selection of OPEN protocol and efficient solution of uneven energy distribution problem.