An Analysis on Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks: Research Issues, Challenges and Applications

摘要

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks is a class of special wireless ad-hoc network with the characteristics of high node mobility and fast topology changes. The Vehicular Networks can provide wide variety of services, range from safety-related warning systems to improved navigation mechanisms as well as information and entertainment applications. So lot of research work is being conducted to study the problems related to the vehicular communications including network architecture, protocols, routing algorithms, as well as security issues. In order to stimulate the 'beginners in research', here we present a paper on an overview of Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks. VANETs comprise vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications based on wireless local area network technologies. The distinctive set of candidate applications, resources, and the environment make the VANET a unique area of wireless communication. Due to their unique characteristics such as high dynamic topology and predictable mobility, VANETs attract so much attention of both academia and industry. In this paper, we provide an overview of the main aspects of VANETs from a research perspective. This paper starts with the basic architecture of networks, then discusses research issues and general research methods, and ends up with the analysis on challenges and applications of VANETs.