The fuzzy-based cluster head election algorithm for equal cluster size in wireless sensor networks

Abstract

In Wireless Sensor Network (WSNs), clustering technique is widely used to balance energy usages consumed by the sensors. In each round of operation, a number of sensors are chosen to be candidate cluster head (CCHs) with a fixed and predefined probability value. CCHs then compete among themselves to become Cluster Head (CH) based on some criteria such as its remaining residual energy. CH role is rotated among sensors within the network field to balance their residual energy. However, area near to the corner and edge of the network field usually has less number of sensors to be CHs role than sensors located around center of the field. This will create energy holes problem on the area where sensors that needed to be CHs more often than others. Another problem is almost existing cluster head competition methods cannot precisely control the size of clusters in the networks. Depend on the spatial correlation of sensor nodes, this may impact the quality of data aggregation performed by the CHs. In this paper, we propose fuzzy based cluster head election algorithm (called FuzzCHE) to control and maintain cluster size while balance residual energy of sensors and extend the network lifetime. With FuzzCHE, each sensor can dynamically adjust probability that each sensor becomes CCH in each round by fuzzy logic. Comparing with existing cluster head election algorithm, results from simulations show that FuzzCHE can give more precise control of the average operated cluster size in the network to the deployed size required by the application.