Title: Biologically inspired mobile agent-based sensor network (BIMAS)

Authors: Vasaki Ponnusamy; Tang Jung Low; Anang Hudaya Muhamad Amin

Addresses: Faculty of Integrative Sciences and Technology, Quest International University Perak, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, 30250 Ipoh, Malaysia ' Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Tronoh, Perak 31750, Malaysia ' Faculty of Information Science and Technology (FIST), Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Melaka 75450, Malaysia

Abstract: Sensor nodes deployed in a large topology require autonomous capabilities and scalability since frequent replacement of the nodes is almost impossible. These sensors should be self-healing and energy efficient. Biologically inspired algorithms offer a new paradigm in providing solutions to problems found within the wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this paper, bee nectar harvesting (analogous to data harvesting from sensor nodes) and flower pollination (analogous to energy harvesting in sensor nodes) are proposed with detailed mapping. Simulation was conducted to evaluate the proposed mechanism and a prototype was developed to show the feasibility of mobile agent deployment and energy provisioning. The research outcome is a biologically inspired mobile agent-based system (BIMAS) that provides a novel self-healing (bee pollination analogy for energy efficiency) protocol, leading to a longer WSNs lifetime. BIMAS is aimed for delay tolerant applications and where sensor node replacement is almost impossible.

Keywords: bee analogy; energy efficiency; biologically inspired computing; multihop routing; mobile agents; WSNs; wireless sensor networks; mobile communications; self-healing; bio-inspired computation; agent-based systems; multi-agent systems; MAS; network lifetime; bee nectar harvesting; data harvesting; sensor nodes; flower pollination; energy harvesting; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2014.064593

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2014 Vol.12 No.5, pp.449 - 476

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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