Mobile base station position optimization for network lifetime maximization in wireless sensor networks

Base station position in wireless sensor networks (WSN) has a significant impact on the network lifetime. The network's lifetime is inversely proportional to the total energy spent in the sensor nodes. The energy consumption for the communication which forms the largest part of this energy is directly related with the base station location in the network. Therefore, by dynamically relocating the base station in order to minimize the WSN total energy consumption, a significantly longer network lifetime can be achieved. In this study, a novel linear programming model for optimum base station mobility is presented. The effects of base station mobility on network lifetime are characterized by solving the model within a wide parameter space.