An enhanced nonlinear iterative localization algorithm for DV_Hop with uniform calculation criterion

Abstract

Node localization is a basic research problem for wireless sensor networks (WSN), and many application implementations require accurate location of sensor nodes. Until now, a range-free algorithm, DV_Hop algorithm, one of the localization algorithms that relied on multi-hop connectivity information between sensor nodes, has become one of the most frequently used algorithms due to its simplicity to implement. However, its localization accuracy is low and difficult to meet the higher requirements of most applications. The aim of this study is to propose an enhanced nonlinear iterative localization algorithm for DV_Hop with uniform calculation criterion, to avoid the conflict in the mathematical sense among the optimal result of each step in the algorithm. The corresponding weighting strategy is designed according to the characteristics of each calculation step. Through sufficient simulation, experimental results demonstrate that each step of the proposed algorithm has produced a better result, and mitigated the cumulative error of subsequent calculations. Besides, compared with the basic DV_Hop and other typical improved algorithms, the proposed algorithm presents better localization performance, significant improvement in both localization accuracy and stability, without enlarge the overall calculation burden.