Wireless sensor network coverage optimization based on novel multi‐strategy gold rush optimizer

Abstract In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), there are three conflicting important issues, including extensive coverage, low node redundancy, and energy consumption for secondary deployment. To balance network coverage and longevity, a WSN coverage model with three objectives is developed. A novel multi‐strategy gold rush optimizer is proposed for the coverage optimization problem in WSN. First, the fusion search method becomes extensive and flexible by combining the migration strategy with the Levy flight mechanism and joining a follower group. Then, the dynamic opposite learning strategy is used to increase population diversity in the panning stage. In addition, a multi‐player collaborative strategy is utilized to improve search ability of the algorithm in the collaboration stage. Finally, the random differential mutation method is used to try to assist the algorithm in escaping local optima. The simulation results show that this algorithm compared with other algorithms performs better on all three objectives considered.