A Reselection-based Energy Efficient Routing Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

Clustering is an effective topology control approach, which can prolong the lifetime and increase scalability for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The popular criteria for clustering technique are to select cluster heads with more residual energy and to rotate them periodically. However, hot spots will emerge in real network environment at locations where they have heavy traffic load to transfer. Sensors at such locations quickly deplete their energy resources and die much faster, lending to energy hole and network partition. In this paper, we proposed our Reselection-based Energy Efficient Routing Algorithm (REERA) for WSNs, which determines proper cluster size based on the distance to the base station. After all clusters are formed, cluster heads can be reselected according to the ratio of residual energy of each node to their distance from base station. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm can be more efficient in saving energy consumption and prolonging lifetime of WSNs than traditional LEACH algorithm.