Abstract:
A mobile ad hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile devices which dynamically form a temporary network, without using any existing network infrastructure or centralised administration. Each node in the network effectively becomes a router, and forwards packets towards the packet’s destination node. Ad hoc networks are characterized by frequently changing network topology, multi-hop wireless connections and the need for dynamic, efficient routing protocols. <p.This work considers the routing problem in a network of uniquely addressable sensors. These networks are encountered in many industrial applications, where the aim is to relay information from a collection of data gathering devices deployed over an area to central points. The routing problem in such networks are characterised by: <ul> <li>The overarching requirement for low power consumption, as battery powered sensors may be required to operate for years without battery replacement;</li> <li>An emphasis on reliable communication as opposed to real-time communication, it is more important for packets to arrive reliably than to arrive quickly; and</li> <li>Very scarce processing and memory resources, as these sensors are often implemented on small low-power microprocessors.</li> </ul> This work provides overviews of routing protocols in ad hoc networks, swarm intelligence, and swarm intelligence applied to ad hoc routing. Various mechanisms that are commonly encountered in ad hoc routing are experimentally evaluated under situations as close to real-life as possible. Where possible, enhancements to the mechanisms are suggested and evaluated. Finally, a routing protocol suitable for such low-power sensor networks is defined and benchmarked in various scenarios against the Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) algorithm.
