Virtual potential field based multi-sink routing algorithm in WSN

Considering the feature of "many to one" in data transmission of the wireless sensor network and introducing the concept of potential field in physics, the mixed virtual potential field is constructed on the basis of the hops of nodes to sinks and the residual energy of nodes. In view of maximizing the network lifetime, a routing algorithm is developed for multi-sink wireless sensor networks, using the virtual force of the virtual potential field as a route selection criterion. Taking the efficiency and balance of energy consumption of sensor nodes into account, the algorithm linearly combines the potential field of hops with that of residual energy together and selects the nodes with the maximum virtual force from neighbor ones as a next node to hop. Using the nodes with high residual energy instead of the ones with low residual energy, the proposed algorithm can dynamically adjust the potential value so as to balance the energy consumption of nodes. Simulation results showed that the algorithm can balance the energy consumption of nodes effectively, thus prolonging the network lifetime, compared with the similar algorithms.