A Review and Classification of Flying Ad-Hoc Network ( FANET ) Routing Strategies

MANETs (Mobile Ad-hoc Networks) applications in various walks of life in the last two decades have resulted in introduction of its sub technologies such as VANETs (Vehicular Ad-hoc Network). In this paper, we focus on new ad hoc networking technology called FANET (Flying Ad-hoc Network). FANET introduces the ad hoc networking of flying UAVs to allow real time communication between them and control stations. Flying drones can also form FANET to establish real time communication to achieve their mission. FANET will help in handling of the circumstances like crisis, natural disaster, military combat zones, and package delivery. Efficient real-time routing is a major challenge in FANET because of the very high mobility which results in unpredictable dynamic topology. Routing along with medium access control is a major hurdle in their real time implementation. In this paper, we have first have first highlighted major research issues and challenges in FANET. Then we have performed an investigative review of suitability of using existing ad hoc routing protocols for FANETs. Then, we propose five categories of FANET routing protocols: static, reactive, proactive, hybrid and hierarchical. Finally, we present a comparison of routing strategies based on certain criteria’s. KEYWORDS— MANET, VANET, FANET, Routing protocols, UAVS, Sensor nodes