Abstract

In this paper, we address the problem of deploying heterogeneous mobile sensors over a target area. Traditional approaches to mobile sensor deployment are specifically designed for homogeneous networks. Nevertheless, network and device homogeneity is an unrealistic assumption in most practical scenarios, and previous approaches fail when adopted in heterogeneous operative settings.

For this reason, we introduce VorLag, a generalization of the Voronoi-based approach which exploits the Laguerre geometry. We theoretically prove the appropriateness of our proposal to the management of heterogeneous networks. In addition, we demonstrate that VorLag can be extended to deal with dynamically generated events or uneven energy depletion due to communications.

Finally, by means of simulations, we show that VorLag provides a very stable sensor behavior, with fast and guaranteed termination and moderate energy consumption. We also show that VorLag performs better than its traditional counterpart and other methods based on virtual forces.

Mobile sensors may be used for environmental monitoring or public safety to track the dispersion of pollutants, gas plumes or fires. In such scenarios it is difficult to achieve an exact sensor placement through manual means. Instead, sensors are deployed from a distance, e.g. from a safe location or from an aircraft, and then reposition themselves to provide the
required sensing coverage.

The potential of such applications has inspired a great deal of work on algorithms for deploying mobile sensors. Most of this work has addressed the deployment of homogeneous sensors to achieve a uniform coverage of a certain density in a specific Area of Interest

INDEX TERMS
Device heterogeneity, self-deployment, Voronoi-Laguerre diagrams.

Project Done by N. Bartolini, T. Calamoneri, T. La Porta, S. Silvestri

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