A Sensor Redeployment Algorithm Based on Virtual Forces for Underwater Sensor Networks

Practical underwater sensor networks redeployment algorithm needs to fully consider limited node resources, node move time and other characteristics in real environment. A Redeployment based on virtual forces (RBVF) algorithm is proposed. The non-persistent carrier sense multiple access protocol is introduced to solve communication conflicts between nodes during redeployment process. Based on existing study on three-dimensional space node deployment, the threshold value is determined to divide the attractive and repulsion forces. The speed of the node is considered. Simulation results indicate that the RBVF algorithm can achieve better coverage and less total move distance when moving nodes are not considered in virtual forces calculation. Water flow force is introduced, and a Virtual forces redeployment based on energy consuming (VFRBEC) algorithm is proposed, where different energy consumptions in different directions are used to modify node displacement. Simulation results indicate that the VFRBEC algorithm can achieve the same coverage performance with the RBVF algorithm with less energy and is better than the redeployment based on combined virtual forces algorithm in terms of both coverage and energy consumption performances.