Hector is an Energy Efficient Tree-Based Optimized Routing Protocol for Wireless Networks

This paper considers the problem of designing power efficient routing with guaranteed delivery for sensor networks with known distances between neighbors but unknown geographic locations. We propose Hector, a hybrid energy efficient tree-based optimized routing protocol, based on two sets of virtual coordinates. One set is based on rooted tree coordinates, and the other is based on hop distances toward several landmarks. In our algorithm, the node currently holding the packet forwards it to its neighbor that optimizes ratio of power cost over distance progress with landmark coordinates, among nodes that reduce landmark coordinates and do not increase tree coordinates. If such a node does not exist then forwarding is made to the neighbor that reduces tree based distance and optimizes power cost over tree distance progress ratio. Our simulations show the superiority of our algorithm over existing alternatives while guaranteeing delivery, and only up to 30% additional power compared to centralized shortest weighted path algorithm.