Robotic Ad-Hoc Networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes a practical approach to enable fair and efficient robotic ad-hoc networks (RANETs) by leveraging WiFi-Direct modes, overcoming hardware limitations and evaluating strategies through simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for supporting fair RANETs using WiFi-Direct, addressing hardware restrictions and demonstrating effectiveness via simulation analysis.

Findings

Proposed a WiFi-Direct based solution for fair RANETs

Evaluated strategies through simulations showing improved fairness

Identified challenges and potential solutions for IoT device connectivity

Abstract

Practical robotic adhoc networks (RANETs), a type of mobile wireless adhoc networks (WANETs) supporting the WiFi-Direct modes common in internet of things and phone devices, is proposed based on a strategy of exploiting WiFi-Direct connection modes to overcome hardware restrictions. For a certain period of time the community was enthusiastic about the endless opportunities in fair, robust, efficient, and cheap communication created by the Adhoc mode of the WiFi IEEE 802.11 independent basic service set (IBSS) configuration that required no dedicated access points. The mode was a main enabler of wireless Adhoc networks (WANETS). This communication mode unfortunately did not get into the standard network cards present in IoT and mobile phones, likely due to the high energy consumption it exacts. Rather, such devices implement WiFi-Direct which is designed for star topologies. Several attempts were made to overcame the restriction and support WANETs, but they break at least the fairness and symmetry property, thereby reducing applicability. Here we show a solution for fair RANETs and evaluate the behavior of various strategies using simulations.