Real-time energy efficient coverage control in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) require energy efficiency to extend the network lifetime because of the nodes with limited power, while ensuring high coverage. This paper proposes a new coverage control strategy in WSNs based on a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm, which overcomes the difficulties in NP-complete problem. A new intelligent optimization algorithm, named multiobjective free search (MOFS) is designed for the characteristics of the WSNs. WSNs are real-time optimized to enhance coverage and extend the networks lifetime. The MOFS algorithm is used to determine the optimal set of active nodes. The effectiveness of the proposed approaches is validated through simulation experiments. The results reveal the tradeoffs among coverage, operating energy, energy equilibrium, and network lifetime.