Leader-Follower Dynamics for Diffusion-based Molecular Communication

Nanomachines are envisioned for a variety of applications in the industry and health sectors operating as sensors and actuators. Considering their potential mobility, it is relevant to study the capability of nanomachines to cooperate in molecular communication scenarios. To this end, we provide new insights into the leader-follower dynamics when a mobile leader node moves randomly in three-dimensional space and emits molecules into a diffusive environment to send information about its position to a follower node. In this paper, we investigate the random distance between the two nodes due to decision errors at the follower and analyze an upper bound for the average distance as a function of time. Simulations are provided to validate our analytical results. Moreover, by comparing to the benchmark scenario of uncoordinated movement of leader and follower, we investigate for which parameters the follower can reliably follow the leader.