Energy Balancing Hopping Sensor Network Model to Maximize Coverage

In wireless sensor networks, communication signal strength weakens as the distance between sensors increases, which increases the tendency for transmitted packets to be lost. This paper provides a novel method of incorporating the hopping capability of a sensor to increase its communication range, which results in increased connectivity and sensed coverage area. Furthermore, jump heights can be manipulated to enhance packet transmissions. Since energy is at premium within sensor nodes, we present a Hopping Sensor Network Model (HSNM) and an energy conserving Hopping Sensor Routing Protocol (HSRP), which aims to optimize communication paths while balancing energy depletion in the network. Results from practical in-field experiments and simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach when employed over a wireless hopping sensor network by showing increased network connectivity and the total area covered. HSRP simulations demonstrated 20% energy saving while increasing the packet delivery. The HSRP results in far less number of dead nodes, especially the high traffic nodes that are closer to the base station.