Impacts of Cluster Architecture on Security and Performance of UAV-assisted Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

In a UAV-assisted WSN (Wireless Sensor Network), a UAV expedites data gathering from sensor nodes, and reduces energy consumption of the sensor nodes. In such a network, grouping sensor nodes into clusters constructs a cluster architecture, and it facilitates energy saving of the nodes and a UAV. In a cluster architecture, a cluster consists of a CH (Cluster Head) and members, and the CH gathers data from the members and delivers the gathered data to a UAV. Such a crucial role of CHs makes attackers try to convert their compromised nodes into CHs. Even though the fixed cluster architecture has enhanced security and performance of CH elections in UAV-assisted WSNs, its superiority over the variable cluster architecture has not been proven. In this paper, we introduced how they differ from each other, and compared two kinds of cluster architecture in terms of security and performance. Simulation results showed that the variable cluster architecture negatively impacts on both the security and the performance. However, the variable architecture has a positive impact on the energy consumption of a UAV. Another interesting founding from the simulation results is that a CH election protocol generating more clusters improves security of the variable cluster architecture sacrificing UAV's energy consumption.