An Improved Routing Algorithm Based on Ant Colony Optimization in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

How to make efficient data routing in energy constrained wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is one of the key points. In order to find the optimal path of data transmission in the WSNs, a new routing algorithm based on ant colony algorithm is proposed. Using the improved heuristic function and considering the node communication transmission distance, transmission direction, and residual energy, an optimal path from the source node to the destination node can be found. Thus, the network energy consumption is reduced and the network lifetime is prolonged. Simulation results show that new ant algorithm can effectively save the energy of nodes and prolong the network lifetime.