LF-Ant: A bio-inspired cooperative cross-layer design for wireless sensor networks

In this paper, the authors propose the LF-Ant protocol for multi-hop wireless sensor networks, a cross-layer design inspired in the organized and collaborative behaviour of natural ants. At the network layer, the heuristic information is modelled by a fuzzy inference system to assist a cluster-head election and the routing process. A resultant relaying threshold is combined with an adaptive invoking of cooperative modulation diversity, at link and physical layers. Simulation results show the performance enhancement in network lifetime and packet loss rate, compared with another cross-layer cooperative system.