A cluster-based routing protocol for wireless sensor networks with nonuniform node distribution

Due to the nonuniform node distribution, the energy consumption among nodes are more imbalanced in cluster-based wireless sensor networks. Based on this problem, in this paper, a cluster-based routing protocol for wireless sensor networks with nonuniform node distribution is proposed, which includes an energy-aware clustering algorithm EADC and a cluster-based routing algorithm. EADC uses competition range to construct clusters of even sizes. At the same time, the routing algorithm increases forwarding tasks of the nodes in scarcely covered areas by forcing cluster heads to choose nodes with higher energy and fewer member nodes as their next hops, and finally, achieves load balance among cluster heads. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our protocol can balance the energy consumption among nodes and increase the network lifetime significantly.