Multi-level LEACH protocol using NS-3

In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), the nodes are used to detect and locate various events over wide areas. The nodes communicate among themselves using wireless connectivity. The data is gathered by the nodes and the same is forwarded using multi-hop wireless links towards the base station. These tiny nodes are supported by very limited computational and energy resources. In flat topology, the nodes relay every data item collected by each node towards the gateway node, thereby draining the energy of the relaying nodes soon. In a WSN application, it may not be possible to replace the batteries always. One of the basic requirements of any WSN application is energy conservation of the nodes. Using hierarchical topology, the data is collected from the nodes in the near vicinity and the same is aggregated and these aggregate values are sent to the gateway node. This work proposes an extension to the LEACH protocol thereby resulting in considerable improvement of energy efficiency. Various comparisons have also been made.