A Distributed and Energy-efficient Clustering Method for Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks

In the hierarchical wireless sensor network (WSN), cluster-based network architecture can enhance network self-control capability and resource efficiency, and prolong the whole network lifetime. Thus, clustering has also been a topic of interest in many different disciplines. Finding an energy-effective and efficient way to generate cluster is very important in WSN. We propose a distributed, energy-efficient and flexible clustering approach. Based on the hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) method, the algorithm uses the qualitative connectivity data as input data, and tailor simple numerical method to generate a cluster tree. Simulation results demonstrate that this method is energy-effective and flexible, which can enhance network self-control capability and resource efficiency, and prolong the whole network lifetime.