@article{article_1639314, title={Sustainable Communication in 5G/6G Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey on Energy-Efficient Collaborative Routing}, journal={ITU Journal of Wireless Communications and Cybersecurity}, volume={2}, pages={11–26}, year={2025}, author={Yılmaz, Muhammed Yasir and Üstüner, Berk and Gül, Ömer Melih and Çırpan, Hakan Ali}, keywords={wireless sensor networks, energy efficiency, routing protocols, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence}, abstract={Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play an important role in modern communication systems with the advances in 5G/6G technologies. These networks have a wide range of applications, from smart cities to industrial automation, from environmental monitoring systems to healthcare applications. However, since sensor nodes have limited energy resources, energy efficiency remains a critical issue for the sustainability of these networks. Low-power routing protocols are needed to ensure the long lifespan and efficient operation of sensor nodes. This study comprehensively studies cooperative energy-efficient routing protocols designed to achieve sustainability in WSNs. First of all, the basic principles of cooperative routing methods are discussed and approaches to optimize data transmission between nodes are reviewed. Then, different energy-efficient routing protocols are compared and the pros and cons of hierarchical, planar and location-based protocols are analyzed. It is shown that by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques into routing protocols, it is possible to dynamically optimize node selection processes and extend the network lifetime. This survey summarizes the current status of energy-efficient routing protocols, discusses the challenges encountered and suggests potential directions for future research.}, number={1}, publisher={İstanbul Technical University}