Multiagent driven dynamic clustering of vehicles in VANETs

Cluster formation in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) is a challenging problem due to rapidly changing network topology and frequent network disconnections of vehicles. Dynamic clustering is a technique to form grouping of vehicles on the fly. We propose a multiagent driven dynamic clustering scheme for VANETS on a lane between two intersections by considering vehicle speed, direction, connectivity degree to other vehicles and mobility pattern. The scheme comprises of heavy-weight static and light-weight mobile agents. Initially, cluster members are identified based on vehicle's relative speed and direction for dynamic clustering. Cluster head is selected among the cluster members based on stability metric derived from connectivity degree, average speed and time to leave the road intersection. Cluster head predicts future association of cluster members based on mobility patterns. The announcement of cluster mobility pattern to all cluster members is made by cluster head. The cluster members with similar mobility pattern can reconnect with cluster head after passing an intersection of the lane. We have evaluated the performance and effectiveness of proposed scheme by comparing with an existing clustering scheme. It is observed that proposed scheme performs better than existing stable clustering scheme in terms of cluster formation time, cluster member selection time, cluster head selection time and control overheads. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.