Vol.:(0123456789) The Journal of Supercomputing (2025) 81:170 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-024-06641-5 An enhanced DV‑Hop localization algorithm in wireless sensor networks with variable velocity strategy and human conception optimization Subrat Kumar Panda 1  · Debasis Acharya 2  · Dushmanta Kumar Das 2  · R. Kumar Rajagopal 1 Accepted: 21 October 2024 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024 Abstract Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely used for detecting objects, collecting, analyzing, and communicating information. Optimizing the estimation of sensor node positions is crucial for precise and reliable operations. The standard Distance Vector Hop (DV-Hop) localization method, while simple and practical, lacks suffi- cient accuracy. This article introduces an Improved Distance Vector Hop (IDV-Hop) algorithm that enhances positioning accuracy using a Variable Velocity Strategy Human Conception Optimization (VVS-HCO). This method refines the velocity update technique to improve convergence and precision without additional hardware costs. The proposed algorithm allows adjustable hop sizes for anchor nodes. Simula- tion results demonstrate that the IDV-Hop algorithm significantly reduces localiza- tion error and variance, improving accuracy under various conditions, outperform- ing other advanced algorithms. Keywords Unknown nodes · Anchor nodes · Accuracy · Coverage · DV-Hop · Error · Localization algorithm · VVS-HCO · Wireless sensor network · LabView software * Dushmanta Kumar Das dushmantakumardas29@gmail.com Subrat Kumar Panda s.k.pandaa@gmail.com Debasis Acharya deba.konnagar@gmail.com R. Kumar Rajagopal rajagopal.kumar4@gmail.com 1 Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, National Institute of Technology Nagaland, Dimapur 797103, India 2 Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology Nagaland, Dimapur 797103, India