How to Implement Swarm Networking in OMNeT++

To implement the Swarm Networking in OMNeT++ has needs to include designing and emulating a network wherever the numerous autonomous nodes like drones, robots can work together to get the common aim via decentralized communication and collaboration. This type of network is very helpful in applications such as search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and collective robotic tasks.

Below are the detailed procedures on how to implementing Swarm Networking in OMNeT++ using the INET framework:

Step-by-Step Implementation

Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework

Make sure we have OMNeT++ and the INET Framework installed.

Create a New OMNeT++ Project

Open OMNeT++ IDE: Start the OMNeT++ IDE.
Create a New Project: Go to File -> New -> OMNeT++ Project. Name your project (e.g., SwarmNetworkingSimulation).

Define the Network Topology

Generate a new NED file to state network topology has contains numerous swarm nodes and a base station or control centre.

Example: Swarm Network Topology (SwarmNetwork.ned)

package swarmnetwork;

import inet.node.inet.WirelessHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

network SwarmNetwork

{

parameters:

@display(“bgb=800,400”);

submodules:

swarmNode1: WirelessHost {

@display(“p=100,300”);

}

swarmNode2: WirelessHost {

@display(“p=200,300”);

}

swarmNode3: WirelessHost {

@display(“p=300,300”);

}

swarmNode4: WirelessHost {

@display(“p=400,300”);

}

swarmNode5: WirelessHost {

@display(“p=500,300”);

}

baseStation: Router {

@display(“p=300,100”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

swarmNode1.wlan[0] <–> AdhocChannel <–> baseStation.wlan[0];

swarmNode2.wlan[0] <–> AdhocChannel <–> baseStation.wlan[0];

swarmNode3.wlan[0] <–> AdhocChannel <–> baseStation.wlan[0];

swarmNode4.wlan[0] <–> AdhocChannel <–> baseStation.wlan[0];

swarmNode5.wlan[0] <–> AdhocChannel <–> baseStation.wlan[0];

}

Configure the Simulation

Generate an OMNeT++ initialization file to configure the parameters of the simulation.

Example: Configuration File (omnetpp.ini)

network = swarmnetwork.SwarmNetwork

sim-time-limit = 200s

# Visualization

*.visualizer.canvasVisualizer.displayBackground = true

*.visualizer.canvasVisualizer.displayGrid = true

# Swarm Node Configuration

*.swarmNode*.numApps = 1

*.swarmNode*.app[0].typename = “SwarmNodeApp”

*.swarmNode*.app[0].destAddresses = “baseStation”

*.swarmNode*.app[0].destPort = 5000

*.swarmNode*.app[0].messageLength = 512B

*.swarmNode*.app[0].sendInterval = 1s

# Base Station Configuration

*.baseStation.numApps = 1

*.baseStation.app[0].typename = “BaseStationApp”

*.baseStation.app[0].localPort = 5000

# UDP Configuration

*.swarmNode*.hasUdp = true

*.baseStation.hasUdp = true

# Wireless Configuration

*.swarmNode*.wlan[0].typename = “AdhocHost”

*.baseStation.wlan[0].typename = “AdhocHost”

# IP Address Configuration

*.swarmNode1.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“swarmNode1.xml”)

*.swarmNode2.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“swarmNode2.xml”)

*.swarmNode3.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“swarmNode3.xml”)

*.swarmNode4.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“swarmNode4.xml”)

*.swarmNode5.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“swarmNode5.xml”)

*.baseStation.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“baseStation.xml”)

Create IP Address Configuration Files

Generate XML files to describe the IP address configuration for each node.

Example: IP Configuration File for swarmNode1 (swarmNode1.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for swarmNode2 (swarmNode2.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for swarmNode3 (swarmNode3.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for swarmNode4 (swarmNode4.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for swarmNode5 (swarmNode5.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for baseStation (baseStation.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Implement Swarm Networking Application Logic

To emulate swarm networking applications, we must need to execute the logic for data collection, communication, and coordination.

Example: Swarm Node Application (Pseudo-Code)

#include <omnetpp.h>

using namespace omnetpp;

class SwarmNodeApp : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

private:

void sendData();

void handleReceivedData(cMessage *msg);

};

Define_Module(SwarmNodeApp);

void SwarmNodeApp::initialize() {

// Initialization code

scheduleAt(simTime() + 1, new cMessage(“sendData”));

}

void SwarmNodeApp::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “sendData”) == 0) {

sendData();

scheduleAt(simTime() + 1, msg);

} else {

handleReceivedData(msg);

}

void SwarmNodeApp::sendData() {

// Logic to send swarm data to the base station or other nodes

cMessage *msg = new cMessage(“swarmData”);

send(msg, “out”);

}

void SwarmNodeApp::handleReceivedData(cMessage *msg) {

// Logic to handle received data from other swarm nodes or the base station

delete msg; // Example: simply delete the message after processing

}

Example: Base Station Application (Pseudo-Code)

#include <omnetpp.h>

using namespace omnetpp;

class BaseStationApp : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

private:

void processAndForwardData(cMessage *msg);

};

Define_Module(BaseStationApp);

void BaseStationApp::initialize() {

// Initialization code

}

void BaseStationApp::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

// Process data from swarm nodes and send commands or aggregate data

processAndForwardData(msg);

}

void BaseStationApp::processAndForwardData(cMessage *msg) {

// Logic to process swarm data and send commands or aggregated data

cMessage *responseMsg = new cMessage(“response”);

send(responseMsg, “out”);

delete msg; // Example: delete the original message after processing

}

Run the Simulation

Build the Project: Right-click on your project and select Build Project.
Run the Simulation: Click on the green play button in the OMNeT++ IDE to start the simulation.

Here, we clearly understood how to execute the swarm networking in OMNeT++ using the INET framework that is mainly used for decentralized communication and collaboration. If you have any doubts regarding the swarm networking then we will provide it too.

Our developers support the implementation of Swarm Networking in the OMNeT++ tool. For more simulation and project ideas, feel free to reach out to us. We specialize in various autonomous nodes, including drones and robots. For further assistance, contact omnet-manual.com.