Mobility Assisted Sensor Node Self-Deployment for Maximizing the Coverage of Wireless Sensor Networks using A Genetic Algorithm

Wireless sensor networks extend the capability to monitor and control far-flung environments. However, sensor nodes must be deployed appropriately to reach an adequate coverage level for the successful acquisition of data. Modern sensing devices are able to move from one place to another for different purposes and constitute the mobile sensor network. This mobile sensor capability could be used to enhance the coverage of the sensor network. Since mobile sensor nodes have limited capabilities and power constraints, the algorithms which drive the sensors to optimal locations should extend the coverage. It should also reduce the power needed to move the sensors efficiently. In this paper, a genetic algorithm- (GA) based sensor deployment scheme is proposed to maximize network coverage, and the performance was studied with the random deployment using a Matlab simulation.