Title of Paper: Swarm-based Routing Algorithms for Sensor and Satellite Networks

Principal Author: Dr. Payman Arabshahi

Abstract: Sensor networks, as well as satellite constellations, face a number of challenges for reliable and robust communications. Increasingly heterogeneous nodes, and a multitude of new emerging Earth science applications put additional constraints on throughput and delay requirements in such networks. These problems can be further aggravated by energy and bandwidth constraints on the network nodes. Quality of service and performance of such wireless networks, in the presence of such issues, are greatly affected by network routing and bandwidth allocation. We propose a new class of routing algorithms, based on principles of biological swarms, which have the potential to address
these problems in an autonomous and intelligent fashion. Such swarm-based algorithms adapt well to dynamic topologies, and have been shown to result in the highest throughput and lowest delays in Internet-style networks, as compared to the current
state-of-the-art. Swarm-based routing algorithms boast a number of attractive features, including autonomy, robustness and fault-tolerance. They rely on the interaction of autonomous agents who communicate with each other through the environment (a phenomenon known as stigmergy). Current swarm based routing algorithms focus on wired circuit or packet switched networks; we will demonstrate new swarm routing algorithms suitable for wireless sensor or satellite networks.

We also focus on another component of network control, namely, bandwidth allocation, for the case of satellite to ground communication. Biologically inspired methodologies such as genetic algorithms or particle swarm optimization will be used for concurrent maximization of the data rate and minimization of transmitter power usage for line-of-sight communication between an earth orbiting satellite and a ground station, subject to constraints on the bit error rate (BER) at the receiver.