Sink mobility in wireless sensor networks: When theory meets reality

The use of sink mobility in wireless sensor networks (WSN) is commonly recognized as one of the most effective means of load balancing, ultimately leading to fewer failed nodes and longer network lifetime. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview and evaluation of various deployment strategies involving sink mobility. The evaluation of the surveyed techniques is based on the traditional performance metrics (energy consumption, network lifetime, delay) as well as their practical feasibility in real-world WSN applications. We believe that by combining analytical and real- world perspective on various issues concerning sink mobility, the content of this paper will be appreciated by both theoreticians and practitioners working in the field of wireless sensor networks.