Metrics for performance evaluation of self-positioning autonomous MANET nodes

We present new quantitative techniques to assess performance of mobile ad hoc network MANET nodes with respect to uniform distribution, total terrain covered by communication areas of all nodes, and distance traveled by each node before a desired network topology is reached. Our uniformity metrics exploit information of Voronoi tessellation of a deployment territory generated by nodes. Since node movement is a power consuming task, average distance that each node travels (ADT) before the network reaches its final distribution is an important indicator for the performance of MANET nodes. Another performance metric is the network area coverage (NAC) achieved by all nodes showing how efficiently the MANET nodes perform. For evaluation of these metrics we use our node-spreading bio-inspired game (BioGame) that combines force-based genetic algorithm (FGA) and game theory to guide autonomous mobile agents in selecting new improved locations. We formally define BioGame, FGA, Voronoi based node uniformity measures, ADT, and NAC. Our simulation experiments demonstrate that these performance evaluation techniques are good indicators for assessing node distribution methods.