UWB based maximizing network liftime with route selection strategies for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks have recently become an area of attractive research interest. It consists of low-cost, low power, and energy-constrained sensors responsible for monitoring a physical phenomenon and reporting to sink node where the end-user can access the data. Time Hopping Ultra-wideband (TH-UWB) is a key solution for wireless sensor networks, characterized by ultra low power consumption and a good degree of robustness to interference and multipath fading. In addition of other factors, the operational lifetime is a critical parameter for TH-UWB trough wireless sensor networks. Moreover, the route selection strategy may have an impact on the sensors lifetime, and following on the network performances. In this paper, we study various route selection strategies that aim at prolonging the lifetime of WSNs using the TH-UWB technology. Also, a new route selection scheme is proposed, that increases further the network lifetime. The simulation results show the performance of these schemes.