Afire hawk optimizer-based energy-efficient clustering scheme in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs)

초록

An underwater acoustic sensor network (UASN) is suitable for gathering data from aquatic environments, including lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans. This network faces several issues due to the distinct features of underwater environments and the limitations of acoustic channels. These challenges include energy limitations, unreliable communication links, and dynamic network topologies. Additionally, the difficulty of recharging or replacing batteries in underwater conditions makes energy optimization essential for prolonging the network lifespan. Currently, many energy-efficient approaches in UASNs emphasize node clustering and multi-hop communication, but most of these methods rely on distributed algorithms. This paper introduces a novel energy-efficient clustering framework called FHOEEC (Fire Hawk Optimization-based Energy-Efficient Clustering), which integrates both distributed and centralized strategies. The clustering process is divided into three stages: (1) cluster formation, (2) selection of cluster heads, and (3) cluster maintenance. During the periodic neighbor discovery phase, FHOEEC examines two key aspects: the format of the hello packet and its propagation process. FHOEEC aims to create an energy-efficient, cluster-based network structure. To achieve this, the sink node utilizes the fire hawk optimization (FHO) algorithm to decide on the optimal range and number of clusters. To establish these clusters, a fitness function considers a weighted combination of three sub-functions: intra-cluster and inter-cluster distances, the proportion of isolated clusters compared to others, and cluster density. In the final stage, intra-cluster and inter-cluster communication paths are established by focusing on energy balance. This ensures that nodes with energy levels below a specified threshold are excluded from serving as intermediate nodes. Simulation results and performance evaluations show that FHOEEC outperforms three existing clustering methods-CCCS, GTC, and EULC-in terms of energy efficiency and network performance. Therefore, FHOEEC significantly enhances network lifespan, balances energy usage among the nodes, and offers better scalability than other schemes.

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