Project Aims

to establish mathematical models to enhance our basic understanding of the interactions between mobility and communication connectivity. Another goal is to use the mathematical models to investigate and optimise the internetworking in VANETs. In addition, creating appropriate networking protocols and functions between unnamed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the sky and VANETs on the ground will be researched.

This research is directly connected to the MESSAGE project, whose results are expected to be extended, and ITA project that is involved in different technical areas, ad hoc networks among others.

It is very important to develop mathematical models to capture spatial and temporal details, vehicle movement and node connectivity. To achieve this goal, it is needed to significantly extend the preliminary stochastic traffic model designed for the MESSAGE project for VANETs in urban road system. The new mathematical models can then be used to study node connectivity. Through the work just explained we will obtain the characteristics of node connectivity that could be used in order to develop principles for new protocols for VANETs. In addition, vehicles distribution and node connectivity obtained from the models can be also used to design and optimise internetworking protocols between vehicles and UAVs for tactical applications. Existing communication protocols for VANETs do not take into account any vehicular traffic statistics. If they do, the models used are the same as those for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) or static ad hoc networks. Our goal is to design cross-layer communication algorithms by exploiting the collected vehicular statistics and the connectivity characteristics derived from the traffic models.The research is structured in two steps. The first step is concerned with the modelling aspect of the VANET network. The second step is the design of efficient cross-layer protocols based on the results of the modelling.

in this work will cover two areas: 1) new theoretical foundations and principles for the design of VANETs, and 2) specific network protocols and control functions to be proposed for VANETs and internetworking with UAVs. Combining the theoretical foundations, design principles and the actual protocols, this project is expected to make VANETs and internetworking with UAVs capable of delivering the quality of service required by mission critical communication for tactical applications. It is anticipated that results and ideas will enhance significantly the networked battlespace capabilities, which represent one of the UK critical technical capabilities. We plan to explore opportunities of practical use with the associated industrial partners.

Stochastic Traffic Models, Communication Connectivity And Protocols Design For Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks