Algorithm for wireless sensor networks in ginseng field in precision agriculture.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Computer Science
• Network Engineering

Background:

• Energy constraints of sensing nodes in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are critical for precision agriculture.
• Optimizing WSNs for 3D crop information acquisition and transmission under limited energy is essential.
• Maximizing the lifespan of sensing nodes is a key challenge in energy-efficient networking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an energy-efficient networking algorithm for WSNs in precision agriculture.
• To optimize equipment configuration and ensure reliable communication within energy constraints.
• To prolong the network lifetime and improve the suitability of WSNs for specific agricultural environments like ginseng cultivation.

Main Methods:

• A particle swarm optimization-based networking algorithm was proposed.
• Consideration of transmission direction and node power consumption for selecting cluster heads and data-forwarding nodes.
• Simulated testing with 50-300 nodes in a 500x500 m2 area, comparing against LEACH, BCDCP, and ECHERP protocols.

Main Results:

• The proposed algorithm significantly prolongs network lifetime compared to existing protocols.
• It mitigates the decrease in distance between sensing nodes and central nodes.
• Demonstrates stronger environmental suitability and improved sensing node longevity.

Conclusions:

• The particle swarm optimization-based networking algorithm is effective for energy-efficient WSNs in precision agriculture.
• It offers a viable solution for extending sensing node lifespan and optimizing network performance.
• The method enhances the overall applicability of WSNs in challenging agricultural settings.