A Weighted Cluster Networking Mechanism for UANET Assisted IoT Networks

Unmanned aerial vehicle ad hoc networks (UANET) possess several advantages, such as distributed operation, self-organisation and long-range communication, leading to an exten-sive application in the field of Internet of Things (IoT). However, in practical UANET assisted IoT network scenarios, high degree of dynamism in UAV network topology, coupled with the complex and harsh conditions, adversely affects communication quality. Cluster networking is a well-established and highly effective technique for both organizing and managing UANET. The primary goal of cluster networking is to enhance the networks connectivity and stability by dividing nodes into clusters. This paper presents a novel weighted cluster networking mechanism, which aims to improve the performance of networks. The proposed mechanism involves two primary stages. In the initial networking stage, lowest identification number algorithm is employed to group the nodes. Subsequently, a weighted networking stage utilizes four metrics to enhance the clustering process. The optimal number of clusters is then determined by solving an optimization problem. Simulation results show that our proposed mechanism improves throughput, reduces delays and has better stability and scalability than traditional algorithms.