Random waypoint considered harmful

TLDR

The random waypoint model is widely used in mobile ad hoc network simulations. The study shows that using the random waypoint model yields unreliable results and proposes a simple fix and alternative approaches. The authors explain the model’s instability intuitively and formally, introduce a modified version that achieves steady state, and present simulation results. The original model fails to reach steady state, causing average node speed to decline and routing metrics to drop up to 40% over 900 seconds, while the modified model restores steady state.

Abstract

This study examines the random waypoint model widely used in the simulation studies of mobile ad hoc networks. Our findings show that this model fails to provide a steady state in that the average nodal speed consistently decreases over time, and therefore should not be directly used for simulation. We show how unreliable results can be obtained by using this model. In particular, certain ad hoc routing metrics can drop by as much as 40% over the course of a 900-second simulation using the random waypoint model. We give both an intuitive and a formal explanation for this phenomenon. We also propose a simple fix of the problem and discuss a few alternatives. Our modified random waypoint model is able to reach a steady state and simulation results are presented.