Energy-conservation clustering protocol based on heat conductivity for wireless sensor networks

One of the most critical issues in wireless sensor networks is energy efficiency because of the limited energy network nodes can store in batteries. Therefore, these networks require robust wireless communication protocols that are designed to be energy-efficient. In this paper, we introduce a routing protocol based on an energy-temperature transformation principle, called RETT. Our objectives are to maximize the lifespan of the entire network rather than maximizing the life span for individual nodes. We do this to avoid sections of the network becoming unreachable when critical nodes along a routing path run out of power. In RETT, which is a cluster based protocol, the head of cluster is able to select the optimal route for sending or relaying the data from the source towards the base station. RETT is based on a thermo dynamic analogy where the expected life spans are transformed into temperatures and the routing algorithm is searching for the hottest path between the source and the destination.