DSCR: A Dynamic Secure Clustering Routing Scheme for UANETs Based on Reputation Mechanism

In UAV ad hoc networks (UANETs), rapid movement of nodes leads to frequent changes in network topology, increasing the risk of packet loss and affecting data transmission. Furthermore, current research on drone clustering lacks security considerations, which reduces the reliability of data transmission. Due to this, improving the stability and reliability of network data transmission in dynamically changing UANETs remains a challenge. In this work, we propose the reputation mechanism dynamically secure cluster routing scheme (DSCR) for UANETs, a design for cluster head election in UANETs using the evaluated value and reputation value of drones and forms clusters through this reputation mechanism to avoid malicious nodes from interfering with the clusters to improve the security of UANETs. We apply a residual link survival time-based intra- and inter-cluster algorithm based on residual link survival time for data forwarding of nodes, optimizing the dynamic routing strategy and reducing the packet loss rate of nodes. In addition, reinforcement learning is used in UANETs to achieve cluster decisions based on the current network state and cluster dynamics, effectively improving the stability of clusters. Experiments were conducted on the proposed method to verify its efficiency and stability. Compared to the ICRA, RICR, and DCA algorithms, the stability of the cluster is improved by 11.92%, 28.12%, and 75.2%, respectively, and the packet loss rate reduced by 41.48%, 44.17%, and 55.74%, demonstrating that DSCR is a compelling dynamic routing solution applicable to UANETs.