Dependable k-coverage algorithms for sensor networks

Abstract: Redundant sensing capabilities are often required in sensor network applications due to various reasons, e.g. robustness, fault tolerance, or increased accuracy. At the same time high sensor redundancy offers the possibility of increasing network lifetime by scheduling sleep intervals for some sensors and still providing continuous service with help of the remaining active sensors. In this paper centralized and distributed algorithms are proposed to solve the k-coverage sensing problem and maximize network lifetime. When physically possible, the proposed robust Controlled Greedy Sleep Algorithm provides guaranteed service independently of node and communication errors in the network. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated and compared to results of a random solution by simulation examples.