A Lightweight and Self-adaptive Ad Hoc Routing Scheme for EUROPCOM Networks

The 1ST EUROPCOM project designs and develops an ultra wideband (UWB)-based ad hoc network for search and rescue operations in disaster zones, especially indoors. The primary application of the EUROPCOM system is to provide position tracking of rescue personnel within the disaster zone. Currently no such technologies or systems exist, which can provide the envisaged functionality. The paper proposes a lightweight and self-adaptive ad hoc routing scheme that takes into consideration the operational characteristics and requirements of the EUROPCOM system. The proposed scheme does not introduce dedicated ad hoc routing packets. It takes advantage of data packets (e.g., positioning information) broadcast by each device. Routing information, which is needed to construct routes, is embedded in the header of the data packets. The optimum route is chosen based on hop count and congestion level of each device along the path. Our routing scheme is bandwidth-and energy-efficient.