To simulate a drone-based Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) project using OPNET in which drones support vehicles in interaction by prolonging coverage, enhancing connectivity, and relaying data. Now, we can follow this detailed configuration:
Steps to Simulate Drone Based VANET Projects in OPNET
- Define the Network Topology
- In OPNET’s Object Palette, choose the nodes to signify vehicles, drones, and roadside units (RSUs).
- Organize these nodes within a VANET topology including vehicles on predefined paths like city roads or highways and drones functioning above them.
- Locate RSUs along the roadsides, which offering more point of interaction for vehicles and drones.
- Configure Mobility Models for Vehicles and Drones
- Utilize a vehicular mobility model which simulates the realistic movements along roads and highways for vehicles. Set up properties such as speed, direction, and lane changes.
- Configure a mobility model to manage its flight patterns above the vehicular network for drones. We can indicate:
- Fixed-route patrols along highways or city streets.
- Random movement in a particular area to offer the wide range of network coverage.
- Hovering behavior across high-traffic zones.
- Make certain diverse speeds and altitudes for drones to prevent the collisions and to enhance the coverage.
- Implement Communication Protocols
- Set up VANET communication protocols for both vehicles and drones:
- Utilize protocols such as IEEE 802.11p or DSRC, for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication.
- For vehicle-to-drone (V2D) and drone-to-drone (D2D) communication, set up drones along with compatible protocols like Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), LTE, or 5G for wider coverage and then enhanced connectivity.
- Enable multi-hop interaction among vehicles and drones that permitting data packets to be effectively relayed using routing protocols like AODV, DSR, or OLSR.
- Define Application and Data Traffic
- Configure usual VANET applications that comprising:
- Emergency notifications: Vehicles can forward alerts to neighbouring vehicles and drones within the event of accidents or hazards.
- Traffic and road condition updates: Drones support in transmitting real-time traffic data.
- Multimedia and data sharing: Drones relay information for multimedia applications like video feeds or maps.
- Indicate diverse data traffic patterns for each application type, which encompassing data rates, packet sizes, and priorities utilizing Application Configuration.
- Configure Drone-Based Relay and Connectivity
- Allocate drones to perform like relay nodes amongst vehicles and RSUs that specifically when vehicles are beyond direct communication range with RSUs.
- Train drones to relay messages amongst vehicles and between vehicles and RSUs to prolong the network reach, which supporting vehicles sustain the connectivity in areas along with sparse infrastructure.
- In Node Model for each drone, set up intelligent algorithms for:
- Routing decisions according to the network conditions like congestion, signal strength.
- Dynamic load balancing if numerous drones are offering coverage for a closely populated vehicular area.
- Set Up Network and Data Collection Parameters
- Describe the simulation metrics and allow data collection for crucial performance parameters:
- End-to-End Delay: Calculate the latency for data packets are transmitted over the network.
- Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR): Estimate the success rate of message delivery amongst vehicles, drones, and RSUs.
- Network Throughput: Observe the rate of data effectively sent via the network.
- Drone Relay Efficiency: Measure how successfully drones relay messages that supporting sustain connectivity for vehicles.
- Run the Simulation
- Begin the simulation and then monitor how drones actively relay messages, prolong the communication range, and sustain the connectivity for vehicles since they move in and beyond limits of RSUs.
- Observe the real-time data flow amongst vehicles, drones, and RSUs to monitor the overall network behavior and effectiveness.
- Analyze Results
- After the simulation, compute the crucial parameters using OPNET’s Analysis Tools:
- Latency and Reliability: Find out if drone-assisted VANET enhances the data delivery and minimizes communication delay.
- Connectivity: Calculate the coverage and connection stability drones offer to vehicles, which specifically within remote or infrastructure-limited areas.
- Packet Loss and Throughput: Verify for minimized packet loss and maximized throughput by reason of the presence of drones within the network.
- Drone Relay Performance: Examine how successfully drones enable the multi-hop communication that particularly for beyond limits of vehicles.
In this project, we had shown the in-depth set up for Drone Based VANET projects, simulated and analysed with the assist of OPNET environment. Based on your requirements, we can provide essential insights relevant to this subject.
