Unequal Clustering Energy Hole Avoidance (UCEHA) algorithm in Cognitive Radio Wireless Sensor Networks (CRWSNs)

Cognitive Radio Wireless Sensor Networks (CRWSNs) promise optimized spectrum utilization but face challenges in sustaining energy balance, particularly due to the emergence of “hot spots.” In CRWSNs, Cluster Heads (CHs) closer to the sink experience higher traffic as compared to those farther away, primarily due to their role in data collaboration and relaying to the sink. This leads to early depletion of their energy reserves and potentially causing the network to partition creating hot spots or energy holes. Effective clustering algorithms are needed to mitigate these hot spots. The main objective of the paper is to propose a novel clustering scheme titled “Unequal Clustering Energy Hole Avoidance (UCEHA) algorithm” to address hot spot issues in CRWSNs. UCEHA partitions the network into clusters based on sink proximity, selecting CHs considering node energy, communication channels, neighbors, and sink distance. An enhanced spectrum-aware AODV mechanism facilitates efficient data routing. To test and validate the proposed methodology, extensive experimentations were conducted and the results demonstrate UCEHA’s superiority over existing methods, exhibiting reduced energy consumption (average 19%), improved network load balance (average 26%), increased network lifetime (average 40%), and enhanced throughput (average 8%). These results highlight the effectiveness of UCEHA algorithm in addressing energy imbalance and hot spot issues in CRWSNs, ultimately leading to enhanced network performance and longevity.