Quantifying network performance of Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

Abstract

The rapid deployment requirements, limited infrastructure, and mobile nature of tactical edge networks have led the Department of Defense (DoD) to investigate and implement mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) to support its mission needs. MANETs rely on spectrum as the transmission medium, and their performance depends heavily on the electromagnetic environment (EME) where they operate. Traditional methods of assessing MANET performance have been focused on link capacity and network throughput, without adequately accounting for the effects of the EME. The joint spectrum center of the defense spectrum organization (DSO/JSC) has developed the spectrum simulation testbed to adequately account for spectrum impacts on MANET performance. As part of the DSO/JSC spectrum simulation testbed development, a number of capability gaps were identified, specifically in areas of quantifying the relationship between spectrum requirements and MANET performance. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a survey to identify the current capabilities to address MANET performance within the context of accounting for available spectrum and to describe two capabilities that were developed to help bridge the analysis gap in the area relating spectrum requirements to system performance predictions.