MBAL: A Mobile Beacon-Assisted Localization Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks

Localization is one of the critical issues on wireless sensor networks. Localization schemes are classified into range-based and range-free according to the method of whether to use range information. In this paper, we propose a novel range-based localization scheme which involves a movement strategy of mobile beacon, called mobile beacon-assisted localization (MBAL). Contrary to many research activities which have been carried out to design localization schemes using mobile beacons only based on random movement method, we consider totally a new scheme providing movement path selection with a low computational complexity. A new range check technique is also adopted into the MBAL as a useful solution to the position-ambiguity problem of bilateration in order to improve the performance of the proposed localization scheme. Simulation results verify that the MBAL impressively achieves energy efficiency because of its mobile beacon based approach using the proposed movement strategy and range check technique.