Challenges in maximizing the life of Wireless Sensor Network

A Wireless Sensor Network is a wireless network that consists of spatially distributed devices called sensor nodes. Each node monitors physical or environmental conditions and communicate with nearby nodes via radio broadcast (network). Research in WSNs has become an extensive explorative area during the last few years, especially due to the challenges offered, energy constraints of the sensors being one of them. Reducing energy consumption of individual sensors in such networks and obtaining the expected standard of quality in the solutions provided by them is a major challenge. The questions how a wireless sensor network’s lifetime can be increased and what are the constraints in improving the operational efficiency are motivating. Specifically, we will focus primarily on different protocols which represent the most suitable technique for energy saving. Moreover, we will also survey in-network processing which can guarantee a significant amount of energy saving. Finally, we will make a review on some communication protocols proposed for sensor networks.