An improved time synchronization algorithm for unmanned equipment mobile ad hoc networks

Aiming at the problem of local clock drift of unmanned equipment in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), an improved time synchronization algorithm with high accuracy and strong stability is proposed on the basis of the flooding time synchronization protocol (FTSP). A Bessel ranging model based on received signal strength (RSSI) is proposed to eliminate the uncertainty of message propagation delay caused by the movement of equipment platform. To make up for the lack of outlier handling in FTSP, an improved iterative reweighted least square (IRLS) method is used to reduce the influence of individual abnormal data caused by unexpected circumstances on the estimated global time. An attack detection mechanism based on the confidence interval of clock deviation is proposed to against continuous malicious attacks. The experimental results show that the improved time synchronization algorithm has higher accuracy and robustness.