1) Wireless sensor networks consist of small autonomous sensor nodes that monitor environmental conditions and communicate wirelessly. Battery power is limited so increasing node lifetime is important.
2) Techniques to enhance lifetime include clustering nodes so cluster heads can aggregate data and reduce transmissions, relocating the data sink to balance energy usage, and using energy-efficient routing protocols.
3) Neural networks can also be used to help manage the fuzzy nature of wireless sensor networks and account for various factors that influence node operations.