A Novel Routing Protocol for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks Based on the Behavior of Slime Mold Physarum Polycephalum

Abstract

In this research, we propose a novel bio-inspired algorithm modeled after the slime mold Physarum Polycephalum. Though Physarum Polycephalum lacks a brain of any kind, it can solve mazes and develop efficient networks through simple, repeated behaviors. To improve the performance of routing algorithms in wireless ad hoc networks, we designed the Optimized Physarum Link State Routing (OPLSR) Protocol. We based the mathematical model of OPLSR on the behavior of Physarum Polycephalum to determine the node's willingness to forward packets sent from neighboring nodes. We tested our novel protocol using NS3 network simulator. We compared OPLSR to the Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) Protocol, the most used routing protocol in wireless ad hoc networks, and Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing (AODV) protocol in multiple network environments. Our exhaustive simulations use six important performance measures to show that OPLSR protocol outperforms OLSR and AODV protocols in various network conditions.