Mobility models for ad-hoc networks: A performance analysis perspective

Multihop wireless networks hold a lot of promise in terms of military based ad-hoc network applications, wireless sensor network based applications, along with vehicular and inter terrestrial applications. The simulation of these types of networks is required to analyze the working of these types of complex networks. An essential component of these simulation based studies is the modeling of mobility of nodes. Thus many mobility models have been proposed to model the movement of wireless nodes with various constraints and real world scenarios. In this chapter an insight is provided into the working of various mobility models along with its classification. The authors also analyze the performance of these mobility models by measuring their performances with appropriate mobility and connectivity metrics. The mobility models proposed to meet the challenges of vehicular ad-hoc networks and delay tolerant networks are also discussed.