TSRP: A Novel Trust-Based and Energy-Aware Secure Routing Protocol for Resource-Constrained Wireless Sensor Networks

This research introduces a novel method to enhance Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) security using a multi-dimensional trust evaluation framework called TSRP. Even with advancements, WSNs face major security risks, necessitating effective measures to prevent excessive stress on communication devices. The system evaluates trust, which is essential for ensuring the security of sensor nodes in WSNs. Instead of relying solely on encryption, this system assigns trust scores to individual relay nodes and derives reputation scores from neighboring nodes. This method effectively identifies trustworthy relay nodes while minimizing the impact on resources. The authentication method uses a progressive critical generation method and ensures resource efficiency through multi-dimensional trust calculation. The system was designed to create an equilibrium between the enhancement of the usage of the resources and the strengthening of security. Specifically, the goal is to maintain nodes with 74% energy efficiency while exhibiting a more predictable energy loss pattern. The results demonstrate an 81 percent reduction in energy fluctuations during operation, coupled with a 36 percent improvement in speed compared to current methods. Simulations confirm that the proposed system has superior data transmission performance and remarkable energy savings compared to existing methods. This provides a potential alternative for secure protocols in WSNs that feature resilience and resource awareness.