Use of mobile mesh networks for inter-vehicular communication

High-speed wireless computing networks are now economically feasible for home users, via 802.11b wireless protocols and their associated hardware. Such centralized "point-to-multipoint" installations typically allow a range of about 100 meters from the central access point. It is possible to use the same network protocols and hardware to construct a "wireless mesh" or "multipoint-to-multipoint" network in which any connected node can communicate directly or indirectly with any other connected node. The research project described in this article applies wireless mesh networking to inter-vehicular communication. Three vehicles were connected as a wireless mesh network using laptop computers with 802.11b radio cards and mesh networking software. The vehicles were then driven on a highway in Northern California to collect data about network connectivity. The goal of the experiment was to prove that such a network could be quickly and easily constructed and that network connectivity could be maintained under normal driving conditions. Data was collected on network connectivity and time delay of network packet transmission.