Cost Benefit Analysis of Utilising Mobile Nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks

Mobile nodes have been found useful for improving performance
of network parameters such as coverage, data latency and load balancing in
wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In spite of the benets which mobile nodes
could oer when used in WSNs, they have been often stated as infeasible for
use. As they are expensive compared to static nodes in terms of manufactur-
ing and mobility cost. This paper evaluates the utility of mobile nodes for
use in WSNs in comparison with static nodes. Novel geometric models to rep-
resent the various functionalities for which mobile could be used have been
proposed, they have been utilised for the techno-economic evaluation based
on cost benet analysis. The models have been designed such that they give
a generic representation of the functionalities, and enable a fair comparison
between them. On the basis of the analysis it is concluded that apart from the
functional utility, mobile nodes are economically benecial for use in WSNs.