Energy efficient clustering algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks using the ABC metaheuristic

Designing an energy-efficient and scalable sensor network while maximizing the lifetime remains a challenge. A number of protocols have been proposed in order to provide a good management in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Routing involves non-negligible operations that considerably affect the network lifetime and throughput. The clustering technique with data aggregation on cluster heads provides an efficient scalability in WSNs, favoring a better network lifetime. In this paper, we present an energy efficient biologically inspired clustering protocol that uses the efficient and fast searching features of Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm. In the proposed protocol, a centralized clustering process is adopted while the data gathering and routing operations are realized in a distributed manner. The proposed protocol is intensively experimented and the results are compared with the some of the well-known clustering and routing protocols. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocol in terms of network lifetime and the amount of transferred packets.