Energy-Aware Fuzzy Clustering and Multi-Hop Relay Optimization for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper presents an energy-aware clustering framework for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSN) aimed at improving energy efficiency and extending network lifetime under constrained underwater communication conditions. The proposed model integrates fuzzy logic-based clustering to dynamically group sensor nodes according to residual energy and inter-node distance, enabling balanced cluster formation across the network. Cluster Head (CH) selection is performed using an energy-aware criterion to reduce communication overhead and avoid early node depletion.A multi-hop relay communication architecture is implemented to facilitate efficient data transmission between sensor clusters and the sink node, mitigating the high energy cost associated with long-range underwater acoustic communication. The framework also incorporates a detailed radio energy consumption model that accounts for transmission distance and channel attenuation characteristics typical of underwater environments.The system is evaluated through iterative simulations that measure key performance metrics, including network lifetime, total energy consumption, node death rate, and load distribution among clusters. Results indicate that the proposed fuzzy clustering approach significantly improves energy efficiency and delays the occurrence of first-node and last-node failures compared to non-clustered or random CH selection strategies. Additionally, the load balancing effect achieved through fuzzy-based membership allocation enhances overall network stability.The proposed framework provides a practical and scalable approach for energy-efficient data management in UWSN environments with strict energy constraints.