Implementation of PC-LEACH Protocol on a LoRa-Based Wireless Sensor Network

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) face a significant challenge regarding energy efficiency due to the reliance of sensor nodes on limited battery power. The commonly used Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) protocol often overlooks residual energy and distance factors in Cluster Head (CH) selection, which can shorten the network's lifespan. This research aims to implement and analyze the Power-Aware Centralized LEACH (PC-LEACH) protocol on a LoRa-based WSN to optimize energy consumption and extend network lifetime. The method involves implementing the PC-LEACH protocol, where CH selection is adaptively performed based on the nodes residual energy and their distance to the Sink. The system was built using ESP32 microcontrollers, LoRa RA-02 modules, and environmental sensors. Performance was evaluated through physical hardware implementation by comparing the protocol against a non-clustering baseline, with emphasis on energy consumption and system operation. The results show that the PC-LEACH protocol reduced the average current draw by 34% compared with the non-clustering scenario (64 mA vs. 97 mA). In addition, the hardware implementation showed successful data aggregation, dynamic CH rotation, and proper operation of the calibrated sensors.