A Detailed Review of State-Of-The-Art Clustering Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks in IoT

Abstract

The rapid expansion of Internet-connected devices now includes not only smartphones but also diverse systems capable of data collection and operation in outdoor environments. Within this context, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) play a pivotal role in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, offering intelligence, adaptability, and reliability. WSNs are typically composed of numerous sensors with limited power and memory resources. A major challenge in these systems is the significant energy consumption during data transmission from source to destination nodes, which directly impacts node lifespan. Since replacing or recharging batteries in such nodes is often impractical, energy efficiency has become a critical design priority in WSN-IoT systems. Clustering protocols have emerged as an effective solution to extend network lifetime and enhance energy efficiency.