An Energy-Balanced Cluster-Based Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a novel energy-efficient clustering protocol for wireless sensor networks. It combines the benefits of using the k-means clustering algorithm with the, recently developed, LEACH with virtual forces (LEACH-VF) protocol. In this work, the k-means algorithm is employed to determine k centroids around which the clusters will be formed. After that, the virtual field force method is applied to these clusters to determine the most suitable positions for each node. The main target of such an approach is to improve the energy balance in the network and to extend the network lifetime. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol extends the time before the first node death, minimizes the variance of the average node energy, and reduces the distance that the sensor nodes travel within their respective clusters.