A Novel Energy-Efficient Clustering Protocol Using Two-Stage Genetic Algorithm for Improving the Lifetime of Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are beginning to be deployed at an accelerated pace, and they have attracted significant attention in a broad spectrum of applications. WSNs encompass a large number of sensor nodes enabling a base station (BS) to sense and transmit data over the area where WSN is spread. As most sensor nodes have a limited energy capacity and at the same time transmit critical information, enhancing the lifetime and the reliability of WSNs are essential factors in designing these networks. Among many approaches, clustering of sensor nodes has proved to be an effective method of reducing energy consumption and increasing lifetime of WSNs. In this paper, a new energy-efficient clustering protocol is implemented using a two-step Genetic Algorithm (GA). In the first step of GA, cluster heads (CHs) are selected, and in the second step, cluster members are chosen based on their distance to the selected CHs. Compared to other clustering protocols, the lifetime of WSNs in the proposed clustering is improved. This improvement is the consequence of the fact that this clustering considers energy efficient parameters in clustering protocol.