ALWadHA Localization Algorithm: Yet More Energy Efficient

Abstract

Many wireless sensor networks (WSNs) applications, techniques, and algorithms require the position of the sensor nodes. Sensor nodes mainly rely on localization algorithms to determine their own physical location. Usually, these sensor nodes are equipped with a limited power source. Therefore, a localization algorithm used by a WSN should be an energy-aware algorithm. One of the energy efficient localization algorithms that has been proposed recently is an efficient localization algorithm for wireless ad hoc sensor networks with high accuracy (ALWadHA). In this paper, we investigate the impact of using three techniques by ALWadHA in improving the energy efficiency of ALWadHA: first, a single-estimation approach whereby a node estimates its position only once; second, dynamic power control whereby reference nodes reduce their transmission power based on their distance to the node that broadcasts the location request; and third an incremental and exponential requesting rate approach, which controls the frequency rate of sending the location request. Simulation results show that the final approach reduces the energy consumption of ALWadHA by 51.5%, without compromising the accuracy of the position estimation.