Abstract: Aiming at the problem of short network life cycle due to low energy efficiency in wireless sensor networks, we proposed a novel improved Harris hawk optimization algorithm based clustering protocols for wireless sensor networks (IHHOC). IHHOC adopted the improved Harris hawk optimization algorithm to obtain the optimal cluster head set. Firstly, the population was initialized by the Sobol sequence and the fitness function was defined by considering the three parameters of residual energy, the distance to the base station, and the density of nodes, and the optimal solution was finally obtained by iterating through the exploration, transition, and exploitation one after another. Secondly, Gaussian stochastic wandering strategy was used to avoid IHHOC falling into local optimum. After clustering, the optimal forwarding nodes were found in the neighboring clusters of the cluster head based on the residual energy, distance from the cluster head and base station to further reduce the network energy consumption. The simulation experiment results show that IHHOC can effectively improve the network energy efficiency, increase the network throughput, and extend the network life cycle.

Key words: wireless sensor network, clustering, Harris hawk optimization, network life cycle