A Multi-Factor Clustering Method Based on Channel Quality in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

In large-scale underwater wireless sensor networks, clustering of sensor nodes is often required to balance the lo ad and improve the throughput. However, due to the complexity of the hydroacoustic channel, existing clustering algorithms based on the distance between underwater nodes alone are not feasible. In this paper, we propose a multifactor clustering method MCHN based on channel quality in aquatic acoustic communication sensor networks, which simulates the aquatic acoustic channel quality through BELLHOP, and clusters nodes from four perspectives: inter-nodal communication quality, node com munication capability, network load balancing, and distance, which improves communication quality between nodes within the clusters and the clustering centre, and ensures load balancing to a certain degree in the network. that can be well applied to underwater wireless sensor network networks.