P&P protocol: local coordination of mobile sensors for self-deployment

ABSTRACT

The use of mobile sensors is of great relevance for a number of strategic applications devoted to monitoring critical areas where sensors can not be deployed manually. In these networks, each sensor adapts its position on the basis of a local evaluation of the coverage efficiency, thus permitting an autonomous deployment. Several algorithms have been proposed to deploy mobile sensors over the area of interest. The applicability of these approaches largely depends on a proper formalization of rigorous rules to coordinate sensor movements, solve local conflicts and manage possible failures of communications and devices. In this paper we introduce P&P, a communication protocol that permits a correct and efficient coordination of sensor movements in agreement with the PUSH&PULL algorithm. We deeply investigate and solve the problems that may occur when coordinating asynchronous local decisions in the presence of an unreliable transmission medium and possibly faulty devices such as in the typical working scenario of mobile sensor networks. Simulation results show the performance of our protocol under a range of operative settings, including conflict situations, irregularly shaped target areas, and node failures.

REFERENCES

• 1: G. Anastasi, M. Conti, A. Falchi, E. Gregori, and A. Passarella. Performance measurements of mote sensor networks. ACM MSWiM, 2004.
• 2: N. Bartolini, T. Calamoneri, E. Fusco, A. Massini, and S. Silvestri. Push & pull: autonomous deployment of mobile sensors for a complete coverage. ACM Winet, 2009.
• 3: N. Bartolini, T. Calamoneri, E. G. Fusco, A. Massini, and S. Silvestri. Snap & spread: a self-deployment algorithm for mobile sensor networks. IEEE/ACM DCOSS, 2008.
• 4: P. Brass. Bounds on coverage and target detection capabilities for models of networks of mobile sensors. ACM Trans. Sensor Networks, 2007.
• 5: J. Chen, S. Li, and Y. Sun. Novel deployment schemes for mobile sensor networks. Sensors, 7, 2007.
• 6: M. Garetto, M. Gribaudo, C.-F. Chiasserini, and E. Leonardi. A distributed sensor relocation scheme for environmental control. ACM/IEEE MASS, 2007.
• 7: N. Heo and P. Varshney. Energy-efficient deployment of intelligent mobile sensor networks. IEEE Trans. Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 2005.
• 8: W. Kerr, D. Spears, W. Spears, and D. Thayer. Two formal fluid models for multi-agent sweeping and obstacle avoidance. AAMAS, 2004.
• 9: M. R. Pac, A. M. Erkmen, and I. Erkmen. Scalable self-deployment of mobile sensor networks; a fluid dynamics approach. Proc. of IEEE/RSJ IROS, 2006.
• 10: S. Poduri and G. S. Sukhatme. Constrained coverage for mobile sensor networks. IEEE ICRA, 2004.
• 11: G. Wang, G. Cao, and T. L. Porta. Proxy-based sensor deployment for mobile sensor networks. IEEE MASS, 2004.
• 12: G. Wang, G. Cao, and T. L. Porta. Movement-assisted sensor deployment. IEEE Trans. Mobile Computing, 2006.
• 13: Y. Zou and K. Chakrabarty. Sensor deployment and target localization based on virtual forces. IEEE INFOCOM, 2003.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.2 Network Protocols

General Terms:
Performance

Keywords:
distributed coordination protocol, mobile sensor deployment, wireless sensor networks