Energy-Balanced Unequal Layering Clustering in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

Underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) are used extensively in activities such as underwater data collection and water pollution detection. An UASN consists of acoustic sensors that use batteries as their power supply. Because of the complex underwater environments in which UASNs are employed, replacing these batteries is difficult. Prolonging the battery life of UASNs by reducing their energy consumption (improving their energy efficiency) is one of the means of mitigating this problem. This paper proposes an energy-balanced unequal layering clustering (EULC) algorithm that improves the energy efficiency of acoustic sensors. The EULC algorithm designs UASNs with unequal layering based on node depth, providing a solution to the hot spot issue through the construction of clusters of varying sizes within the same layer. Simulation results show that the EULC algorithm effectively balances the energy in UASN nodes and thereby prolongs network lifetime.