Wireless Ad hoc Networks: Limitations, Applications and Challenges

Overview: Wireless Ad hoc networks are networks in which communication links are based on wireless technologies and the network structure or topology is not pre-defined rather build through dynamic network connectivity. The three common sub types of these networks are Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs), Wireless Sensor Networks and Wireless Mesh Networks. MANETs have an additional feature that here nodes are mobile and can change their position with the passage of time. Wireless sensor networks are basically networks of special purpose sensor nodes which normally have limited computing functionality.

Wireless devices are getting more and more popular these days. Manufacturers are expecting high demand for wireless technologies in the coming days. This high demand is increasing pressure on researchers to come up with viable solutions that can meet the demands of the market. The challenges which are being faced in this research area have many faces. On one hand the target devices have different nature which causes problems like resource limitation. Then there are limitations due to the available technologies like band width, frequency channel, and interoperability. The prospective uses of these networks also come up with another list of restrictions like throughput, response time etc.

Project: Basically it is a survey kind of project. We require that a survey/analysis of all types of wireless ad hoc network technologies should be performed to identify their limitations. This analysis should consider all kinds of limitations whether posed by technologies at physical layer or by protocols at upper network stack layers. In the second phase, possible real life application areas for these wireless technologies and relevant requirements should be identified. Finally, a list of possible challenges faced by wireless networks based on the analysis performed should be presented.

Requirements: To accomplish this task, the student should have good background of networks particularly ad hoc networks. The preferred language for the report and the presentation in this project is English, however German is also acceptable.

References: This project requires plenty of search therefore all possible sources of information are included in reference.

Documents: Project Report[PDF]