An Energy-Efficient Clustering Protocol for IoT-Based Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks are the sensing backbone of many Internet-of-Things deployments, but the limited battery of each node makes energy efficiency the foremost design concern, since replacing batteries in the field is often impractical. Clustering, in which nodes elect cluster heads to aggregate and relay data, is a proven way to conserve energy, and the method of selecting cluster heads strongly affects network lifetime. This paper proposes an energy-efficient clustering protocol for IoT-based wireless sensor networks that selects cluster heads using both residual energy and distance to the base station, rotating the role to balance the load. The protocol was evaluated by simulation against the well-known LEACH and HEED protocols, with network lifetime as the principal measure. The proposed protocol extended the network lifetime substantially, delaying the death of the first node and keeping nodes alive for far more rounds than the baselines. The results show that energy and distance-aware cluster-head selection markedly improves the longevity of wireless sensor networks, supporting more sustainable Internet-of-Things deployments. KEYWORDS: wireless sensor networks, energy efficiency, clustering protocol,Internet of Things, network lifetime, cluster head