Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach
With the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing technology, large-scale UAV swarm ad hoc networks are becoming widely used in military and civilian spheres. UAV swarms equipped with ad hoc networks and satellite networks are being developed for 6G heterogeneous networks, es...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Liubin Song Daoxing Guo |
| author_facet | Liubin Song Daoxing Guo |
| author_sort | Liubin Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing technology, large-scale UAV swarm ad hoc networks are becoming widely used in military and civilian spheres. UAV swarms equipped with ad hoc networks and satellite networks are being developed for 6G heterogeneous networks, especially in offshore and remote areas. A key operational aspect in large-scale UAV swarm networks is slot allocation for large capacity and a low probability of conflict. Traditional methods typically form coalitions among UAVs that are in close spatial proximity to reduce internal network interference, thereby achieving greater throughput. However, significant internal interference still persists. Given that UAV networks are required to transmit a substantial amount of safety-related control information, any packet loss due to internal interference can easily pose potential risks. In this paper, we propose a distributed time coalition formation game algorithm that ensures the absence of internal interference and collisions while sharing time slot resources, thereby enhancing the network’s throughput performance. Instead of forming a coalition from UAVs within a contiguous block area as used in prior studies, UAV nodes with no interference from each other form a coalition that can be called a time coalition. UAVs belonging to one coalition share their transmitting slots with each other, and thus, every UAV node achieves the whole transmitting slots of coalition members. They can transmit data packets simultaneously with no interference. In addition, a distributed coalition formation game-based TDMA (DCFG-TDMA) protocol based on the distributed time coalition formation algorithm is designed for UAV swarm ad hoc networks. Our simulation results verify that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve the UAV throughput compared with that of the conventional TDMA protocol. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a95528af75e94c5ca1e5d6c192962a1f |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj-art-a95528af75e94c5ca1e5d6c192962a1f2025-08-20T02:42:29ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002025-02-0127325610.3390/e27030256Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game ApproachLiubin Song0Daoxing Guo1College of Communications Engineering, Army Engineering University of PLA, No. 2 Biaoying, Ruijin Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing 210007, ChinaCollege of Communications Engineering, Army Engineering University of PLA, No. 2 Biaoying, Ruijin Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing 210007, ChinaWith the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing technology, large-scale UAV swarm ad hoc networks are becoming widely used in military and civilian spheres. UAV swarms equipped with ad hoc networks and satellite networks are being developed for 6G heterogeneous networks, especially in offshore and remote areas. A key operational aspect in large-scale UAV swarm networks is slot allocation for large capacity and a low probability of conflict. Traditional methods typically form coalitions among UAVs that are in close spatial proximity to reduce internal network interference, thereby achieving greater throughput. However, significant internal interference still persists. Given that UAV networks are required to transmit a substantial amount of safety-related control information, any packet loss due to internal interference can easily pose potential risks. In this paper, we propose a distributed time coalition formation game algorithm that ensures the absence of internal interference and collisions while sharing time slot resources, thereby enhancing the network’s throughput performance. Instead of forming a coalition from UAVs within a contiguous block area as used in prior studies, UAV nodes with no interference from each other form a coalition that can be called a time coalition. UAVs belonging to one coalition share their transmitting slots with each other, and thus, every UAV node achieves the whole transmitting slots of coalition members. They can transmit data packets simultaneously with no interference. In addition, a distributed coalition formation game-based TDMA (DCFG-TDMA) protocol based on the distributed time coalition formation algorithm is designed for UAV swarm ad hoc networks. Our simulation results verify that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve the UAV throughput compared with that of the conventional TDMA protocol.https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/27/3/256UAV swarm ad hoc networkslot allocationcoalition formation game |
| spellingShingle | Liubin Song Daoxing Guo Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach Entropy UAV swarm ad hoc network slot allocation coalition formation game |
| title | Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach |
| title_full | Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach |
| title_fullStr | Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach |
| title_short | Slot Allocation Protocol for UAV Swarm Ad Hoc Networks: A Distributed Coalition Formation Game Approach |
| title_sort | slot allocation protocol for uav swarm ad hoc networks a distributed coalition formation game approach |
| topic | UAV swarm ad hoc network slot allocation coalition formation game |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/27/3/256 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liubinsong slotallocationprotocolforuavswarmadhocnetworksadistributedcoalitionformationgameapproach AT daoxingguo slotallocationprotocolforuavswarmadhocnetworksadistributedcoalitionformationgameapproach |