Charging Protocol for Partially Rechargeable Mobile Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have wide applicability in services used in daily life. However, for such networks, limited energy is a critical issue. The efficiency of a deployed sensor network may be subject to energy supply. Wireless rechargeable sensor networks have recently been proposed and discussed. Most related studies have involved applying static rechargeable sensors to an entire rechargeable environment or having mobile chargers patrol the environment to charge sensors within it. For partially rechargeable environments, improving the recharge efficiency and extending the lifetime of WSNs are considerable challenges. Scientists have devoted attention to energy transmission technologies and mobile sensor network (MSN) applications. In this paper, we propose a flexible charging protocol in which energy can be transmitted from certain energy supply regions to other regions in an MSN. Mobile rechargeable sensors are deployed to monitor the environment. To share energy in a certain region, the sensors move to replenish their energy and transmit energy to sensors outside the energy supply region. The efficiency of the proposed protocol is also discussed in the context of various situations. The evaluation results suggest that the flexible protocol is more efficient than other charging protocols in several situations.

Automated summary

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have wide applicability in daily life services, but limited energy is a critical issue. Recent studies have focused on wireless rechargeable sensor networks, where static rechargeable sensors or mobile chargers are used to replenish energy. However, for partially rechargeable environments, improving recharge efficiency and extending the lifetime of WSNs pose considerable challenges. In this paper, a flexible charging protocol is proposed that allows energy transmission from certain supply regions to other regions in a mobile sensor network (MSN). Evaluation results show that the proposed protocol is more efficient than other charging protocols in several situations.