DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS MOBILE AD HOC NETWORK SIMULATION MODEL

A growing demand for increased networking interoperability has spawned a requirement for ad hoc networking. One proposal to satisfy the need is development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communications Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET). In order to establish these UAV MANETs, a large set of Internet Protocol (IP) based routing protocols must be analyzed to determine suitability for incorporation into the UAV MANET. This thesis represents the initial phase in developing a simulation model to look at routing performance parameters for the conceptual UAV MANET. The Optimum Network Performance (OPNET) simulation software tool was used for this analysis. Analysis and simulations of the Ad Hoc On-Demand Vector Protocol (AODV), Dynamic Source Routing protocol (DSR), and Zone Routing Protocol (ZRP) were conducted to determine their suitability for the UAV MANET model. Results conclude that some routing protocols are more suitable for military operations than others and that development of MANET gateway models are required. Additionally, network management and security issues for this conceptual network are addressed.