A Proficient Node Deployment Mechanism Using Adjustable Sensing Range in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, a proficient node deployment mechanism is proposed which covers all the target points using adjustable sensing ranges in grid-based wireless sensor networks. In the beginning, the sink and the target points are randomly deployed in a grid-based environment where locations are arbitrarily selected. At first, the ants are positioned at the sink location (grid point) from where the deployment of sensors starts. An ant can move in one of the four possible directions, i.e., {1 (left); 2 (right); 3 (top); 4 (bottom)} from the sink location depending on the maximum number of uncovered target points. In case there is no path to move forward, an existing sensor is selected as the next location corresponding to that next sensor point where a deployed sensor can cover maximum number of uncovered targets in one of the four possible directions. Our method deploys minimum number of sensors to cover all the targets with least number of iterations. It also provides full coverage and connectivity with minimum deployment cost.