Modeling and Optimizing the Cascading Robustness of Multisink Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Current research on cascading failures of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) mainly focuses on single-sink networks and rarely involves multisink networks. To this end, this article proposes a realistic cascading model for multisink WSNs based on a new load metric “multioriented link betweenness.” On this basis, a memetic algorithm MA-MSP is proposed to help WSNs resist cascading failures via multisink placement optimization, in which the local search operator is designed based on a new network balancing metric “multioriented network entropy.” Extensive simulations have shown that the proposed cascading model can properly characterize the cascading process of multisink WSNs. Link capacity is a key factor in determining network robustness. MA-MSP can obtain a more robust placement scheme with less time compared to existing algorithms. The network communication efficiency is positively related to network robustness, and the average shortest path length is negatively related to network robustness.