| To accommodate the unique conditions of mobile wireless networks, numerous protocols have been designed. Protocols are initially tested through simulation software, but often under non-realistic conditions, using simple or even ideal wireless environments not usually found in the real world. Without challenges and channel impairments, such simulations cannot accurately determine the advantages and disadvantages of the protocol nor can a reliable comparison be made between the performance of any two protocols. New protocols must be tested in a manner consistent with legacy protocols so they can be accurately compared and improved upon. The contributions of this thesis are a set of models that can create more realistic and challenging simulations, including a 3-D implementation of the Gauss-Markov mobility model, and a set of benchmarks that can be used to test the strengths and weaknesses of wireless routing protocols. These benchmarks are then applied to several MANET protocols including AODV, DSR, OLSR, DSDV, and AeroRP that is part of the Aero protocol stack developed at The University of Kansas. AeroRP outperforms the traditional MANET routing protocols in benchmarks that involve either highly-dynamic networks or disruptions in connectivity. |
