Optimizing Quality of Service of Clustering Protocols in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks with Mobile Data Collector and Machine Learning

The rise of large-scale wireless sensor networks (LSWSNs), containing thousands of sensor nodes (SNs) that spread over large geographic areas, necessitates new Quality of Service (QoS) efficient data collection techniques. Data collection and transmission in LSWSNs are considered the most challenging issues. This study presents a new hybrid protocol called MDC-K that is a combination of the K-means machine learning clustering algorithm and mobile data collector (MDC) to improve the QoS criteria of clustering protocols for LSWSNs. It is based on a new routing model using the clustering approach for LSWSNs. These protocols have the capability to adopt methods that are appropriate for clustering and routing with the best value of QoS criteria. Specifically, the proposed protocol called MDC-K uses machine learning K-means clustering algorithm to reduce energy consumption in cluster head (CH) election phase and to improve the election of CH. In addition, a mobile data collector (MDC) is used as an intermediate between the CH and the base station (BS) to further enhance the QoS criteria of WSN, to minimize time delays during data collection, and to improve the transmission phase of clustering protocol. The obtained simulation results demonstrate that MDC-K improves the energy consumption and QoS metrics compared to LEACH, LEACH-K, MDC maximum residual energy leach, and TEEN protocols.