Power-saving routing algorithm based on ant algorithm in ad hoc networks

A method of improved ant algorithm called PSAA (Power-Saving Ant Algorithm) is proposed for ad hoc networks to prolong the lifetime of ad hoc networks as long as possible. The remaining battery power and its variance of nodes in ad hoc networks are taken into account in PSAA. The variance of remaining battery power of nodes partially shows the equilibrium of every node's power consumption. Leading in the mutation strategy that has a random small probability, PSAA can avoid getting into local optimal solutions. Furthermore, PSAA sets hop constraint to provide QoS guarantee. Simulation shows PSAA can evidently save power and further prolong the lifetime of networks.