A Flock-Based Model for Ad Hoc Communication Networks
Christian Carling, Pontus Svenson, Christian Mårtenson, Henrik Carlsen · 2003
We introduce a model for simulating the movement of semi-autonomous mobile units that exhibit swarm-based behaviour and collectively form a mobile ad-hoc communication network. The mobility model is used to study how the topological properties of the resulting communication network change over time. The connectivity graphs are determined by allowing each unit to communicate with others inside a given radius. By varying the free parameters of the mobility model, qualitatively different regimes of movement can be emulated. A number of properties of the graphs (e.g., the size of largest connected component, overall network efficiency and the number of isolated units) are calculated and compared for the different regimes. Finally, we present several directions for future work, both in terms of further applications and extensions of the present model. 1.