Sensor network sensing coverage optimization with improved artificial bee colony algorithm using teaching strategy

Considering the complexity of wireless sensor network (WSN) coverage problems, which include many variables and a large continuous search space, a WSN coverage optimization method based on an improved artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm with teaching strategy is proposed in this paper. ABC, which is good at exploration but poor at exploitation, is improved by introducing a teaching strategy in teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) that has a rapid convergence but is easily trapped in a local optima. Thus, the proposed algorithm combines the advantages of ABC strong global search ability and TLBO rapid convergence. In addition, to retain the diversity and eliminate the parameter limit in ABC, a dynamic search update strategy is introduced instead of the scout bee phase of ABC. In addition to preliminary examinations with a number of benchmark functions, the performance of the algorithm is verified by solving a complicated wireless sensor network coverage problem. The simulation results verify that the proposed algorithm achieves better balance between global and local search compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms.