A new protocol for the development and maintenance of autonomous mobile sensor networks

Mobile sensor networks have played an purposes important role in control and decision-making. Autonomous mobile sensor networks are a step ahead. One of the required characteristics of an autonomous network is the capability to form and sustain itself while it's components (nodes) move about or go out of action. This paper proposes a protocol that can be used by network nodes to periodically evaluate and connect/reconnect with other nodes. The aim is to be able to form a connected network wherein any node can communicate with any other node in the network via a series of intermediate nodes (wherever necessary). One constraint imposed is that the node can only connect with nodes which are within a certain fixed distance from it. Another constraint is that a node can connect at most to a specific number of other nodes. Simulations are performed and the average number of nodes which form less than the maximum number of connections allowed is calculated. An attempt is made to propose a probability function describing the probability that one node connects to another. The simulations indicate that the best possibility of forming a connected network occurs when the distance over which the nodes can connect is approximately equal to the radius of the spread of the network. Also, a maximum of three connections per node result in a well-connected network.