Mobility management algorithms and applications for mobile sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) offer a convenient way to monitor physical environments. In the past, WSNs are all considered static to continuously collect information from the environment. Today, by introducing intentional mobility to WSNs, we can further improve the network capability on many aspects, such as automatic node deployment, flexible topology adjustment, and rapid event reaction. In this paper, we survey recent progress in mobile WSNs and compare works in this field in terms of their models and mobility management methodologies. The discussion includes three aspects. Firstly, we discuss mobility management of mobile sensors for the purposes of forming a better WSN, enhancing network coverage and connectivity, and relocating some sensors. Secondly, we introduce path-planning methods for data ferries to relay data between isolated sensors and to extend a WSN's lifetime. Finally, we review some existing platforms and discuss several interesting applications of mobile WSNs. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.