PEGADyn: A Cluster-Based Energy Efficient Routing Protocol for Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) is a group of networked mobile devices working in a cooperative manner, which are deployed in situations like fire disaster and earthquake rescue. Due to usage these devices quickly run out of battery power in critical situations thus, fail in packet transmission in an ad hoc network. The energy or lifetime of ad hoc networks has been a topical research issue, and many proposals have been put forward to address this. Power-Efficient Gathering in Sensor Information Systems (PEGASIS) and Dynamic State algorithm are two research works with unique energy efficiency concepts that if harmonized and refined, will deliver a better optimized energy efficient routing protocol for MANETs. This study therefore, proposes PEGADyn - a hybrid version of PEGASIS and Dynamic State algorithm into a new energy-efficient routing protocol for ad hoc networks. PEGADyn creates a virtual grid classification of nodes based on the current location of nodes, and this is followed by a cluster formation of nodes in each virtual grid created. In each cluster and virtual grid formed, cluster heads (CHs) and designated cluster heads (dCH) are selected based on their energy levels. CHs and dCHs are used for communication between clusters and virtual grids. The use of CHs and dCHs limits communication overheads among nodes hence, reducing the energy expended and thus, increasing the network lifetime. A simulation comparison of PEGADyn with PEGASIS and Dynamic State shows PEGADyn to be more optimal in extending network lifetime and maintaining network throughput.