Distributed Network, Neighbor Discovery and Blind Routing for Mobile Wireless Ad-hoc Networks

Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANETs) often exist in dynamic environments that present challenges for network control functions, such as drone networks. Lacking infrastructure, MANETs require distributed control functions. Factors such as unpredictable movements, limited battery life and transmission ranges encourage efficient network control functions. Integrating control functions into a single protocol allows efficient, distributed control of the network which can be more robust against failures in the network. This paper presents the routing and network/neighbor discovery of a distributed network control protocol suitable for drone networks or other MANETS and an integrated protocol combining routing, and network/neighbor discovery. Using modified versions of Ad hoc On Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing and Carrier-Sense Multiple Access (CSMA), the protocol performs blind route discovery and forwards packets while simultaneously performing network/neighbor discovery. Simulation shows the proposed protocol performing similarly to existing protocols for routing, scheduling, synchronization and network discovery even without having a priori knowledge of the network parameters which existing protocols use.