Evaluation of adaptive routing protocols for packet radio networks

Current trends in C³I call for automated and adaptive network control capabilities. Such advanced techniques are required to handle increasing traffic demands while ensuring a high degree of reliability and survivability of the network. Two separate adaptive algorithms for routing are developed and evaluated for use in packet radio networks. The first algorithm dynamically assigns routes from source to destination based upon update information received from a node´s neighbors and current link quality calculations. The second algorithm makes use of routing groups to forward packets. The routing group update algorithm is designed to keep routing groups current as the network configuration changes. The two routing algorithms as well as other protocols for distributed control are being evaluated with a packet radio network simulation model. This model is a dynamic simulation where the protocols and algorithms implemented allow the network to automatically adapt to any changes in its topology. The simulation sets up a fully distributed network and explicitly models the unique features of a specific combat net radio, the propagation, queuing and processing delays, and the protocols implemented. The simulation model is used as a basis for evaluating the performance of the routing algorithms as well as the overall network behavior