A QoS-Constrained and Utility-Driven Routing Framework with Mobility-Predictive Stability for Flying AD-HOC Networks (QAR)

Abstract

Flying Ad-Hoc Networks (FANET) has become popular for many applications that require the exchange of reliable, real-time data, such as environmental monitoring or disaster assessment. Most of the missions that rely on FANETs require traffic to meet strict Quality of Service (QoS) requirements (e.g., low latency, high reliability, etc.) and will also have high mobility and often experience sudden changes in their topology. However, almost all routing algorithms currently used in FANETs were not purpose-built to handle these constraints; consequently, they exhibit reduced performance under both conditions. Variation in link quality and intermittent connectivity make maintaining consistent communication more difficult. The proposed QoS-Aware Routing (QAR) framework incorporates application-specific QoS requirements directly into the routing process, enabling route selection to better satisfy the communication demands of diverse FANET applications. The proposed scheme continuously monitors key QoS metrics, such as delay, packet loss, and throughput, and informs routing decisions based on evolving network conditions. QAR will enhance data delivery reliability within the network and increase overall network efficiency by matching real-time QoS measurements to route selection. The simulations show that the proposed algorithm provides better QoS and more predictable communication behaviour than traditional FANET routing protocols, indicating that it can be used in mission-based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications.