A Probabilistic Lifetime Analysis for Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks

Clustering sensors is considered as an efficient way for increasing the lifetime of a wireless sensor network. One of the main advantages of these networks, leading to a longer lifetime, is the ability of data aggregation by the cluster head (CH). Assuming a fixed-shape for the cluster, the probability of achieving a desired lifetime by the cluster has been derived when the nodes are randomly deployed within the cluster. Having the clusters lifetime, the network lifetime can be consequently determined. In addition, it is shown that clustered networks are not necessarily better than the non-clustered networks in terms of the energy consumption and consequently the network lifetime. To this end, a condition related to the data aggregation capability of CH is found indicating when the clustered networks outperform non-clustered ones.