An Analytical Study on Variants of LEACH Protocol

Abstract

There are many remote areas where traditional computer networks cannot render services due to unavailability of infrastructure. Among these infrastructure less networks, most popular choice for researchers are wireless sensor network in the modern era. Wireless Sensor networks perform the communication in remote areas where it is difficult to deploy the layout of network. Clustering hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is still a landmark as energy saving protocol for the researchers of wireless sensor network (WSN) even after 20 years of its existence. Since its inception, many modifications of LEACH protocol have been proposed. All the routing protocols have been divided into two categories namely single hop and multi hop scenarios. In this paper, we studied and surveyed various LEACH based routing protocols presented by researchers so far and discussed the advantages and functioning of them in comparison to LEACH protocol. The paper also discusses the merits and demerits of different successors of LEACH. In the end, paper concludes with future research directions in the Wireless sensor network area.