How to Start V2X Communication Projects Using NS2

To start V2X Communication (Vehicle-to-Everything) projects using NS2 (Network Simulator 2), we will concentrate on interact among the vehicles and other entities like infrastructure, pedestrians, and networks. These projects contain wireless interaction, mobility modeling, and protocol model. Let’s see how to start and simulate the V2X Communication projects through following steps in NS2.

Steps to Start V2X Communication Projects in NS2

  1. Set Up NS2 for V2X Projects
  1. Install NS2:
    • We should download and install NS2 on the machine.
    • For V2X projects, make sure that we have VanetMobiSim or SUMO for mobility modeling. A few custom patches or extensions probably needed for more complex V2X interaction.
  2. Verify the Installation:
    • Make certain that NS2 is properly installed with sample Tcl scripts.
  3. Install Mobility Tools:
    • VanetMobiSim: This is a mobility tool to create realistic mobility scenarios.
    • SUMO (Simulation of Urban Mobility): It is designed for advanced vehicular movement simulation. Transfer mobility traces which are well-matched in NS2.
  1. Understand V2X Communication

V2X communication includes:

  • V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle): Interaction among the vehicles.
  • V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure): Communication with infrastructure such as roadside units (RSUs).
  • V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian): Interaction with pedestrian devices.
  • V2N (Vehicle-to-Network): It helps to communicate with cellular networks or the internet.
  1. Define the V2X Scenario

Design the V2X simulation scenario:

  • Describe road topology.
  • Choose the interaction kind like V2V, V2I.
  • Select mobility models such as urban, highway, or random.
  1. Define Network Topology in NS2

Design the V2X network topology to utilise a Tcl script.

Example: Basic V2X Network Topology

# Create a simulator instance

set ns [new Simulator]

# Trace and NAM files

set tracefile [open v2x.tr w]

set namfile [open v2x.nam w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

$ns namtrace-all $namfile

# Define nodes (vehicles and RSU)

set vehicle1 [$ns node]

set vehicle2 [$ns node]

set rsu [$ns node]

# Wireless channel configuration

$ns add-wireless-channel 2.4GHz 300m

# Mobility for vehicles

$vehicle1 set X_ 0

$vehicle1 set Y_ 0

$vehicle1 set Z_ 0

$vehicle2 set X_ 100

$vehicle2 set Y_ 100

$vehicle2 set Z_ 0

$ns at 1.0 “$vehicle1 setdest 200 100 10”

$ns at 2.0 “$vehicle2 setdest 300 150 15”

# V2V communication (UDP)

set udp1 [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $vehicle1 $udp1

set udp2 [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $vehicle2 $udp2

$ns connect $udp1 $udp2

# RSU communication (TCP)

set tcp [new Agent/TCP]

$ns attach-agent $rsu $tcp

set sink [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $vehicle1 $sink

$ns connect $tcp $sink

# Application traffic

set cbr [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr set packetSize_ 512

$cbr set interval_ 0.1

$cbr attach-agent $udp1

# End simulation

$ns at 10.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exec nam v2x.nam &

exit 0

}

# Run simulation

$ns run

  1. Simulate Mobility

For realistic vehicular movement:

  1. VanetMobiSim:
    • Create a mobility trace and import it to NS2 environment.
    • Instance:

java -jar VanetMobiSim.jar input_file.xml output_file.ns

  1. SUMO:
    • Make road outlines and vehicle movement with the support of SUMO.
    • Transfer mobility traces for NS2.
  1. Implement V2X Protocols

Modify the interaction protocols for V2X scenarios:

  1. V2V Routing:
    • Make use of ad-hoc routing protocols such as AODV, DSR, or DSDV.
    • Instance command:

$ns node-config -adhocRouting AODV

  1. V2I Communication:
    • Set the RSUs for interacting with vehicles to utilise TCP or UDP.
  2. Hybrid V2X:
    • Integrate the hybrid V2V and V2I with several interfaces.
  1. Simulate Traffic

We will need to replicate diverse traffic patterns to experiment the V2X interaction.

Example: Traffic Generation

# V2V Communication

set udp [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $vehicle1 $udp

set null [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $vehicle2 $null

$ns connect $udp $null

set cbr [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr set packetSize_ 256

$cbr set interval_ 0.05

$cbr attach-agent $udp

$ns at 0.5 “$cbr start”

  1. Run and Visualize the Simulation
  1. We can store the Tcl script like v2x.tcl.
  2. Execute the simulation script:

ns v2x.tcl

  1. Envision the network using NAM:

nam v2x.nam

  1. Analyze Results
  • Trace File Analysis:
    • Obtain performance parameters like throughput, delay, and packet delivery ratio.
  • Metrics to Evaluate:
    • Network throughput.
    • Handover delay (for V2I).
    • Packet delivery ratio.
    • End-to-end latency.

Example AWK Script for Throughput Analysis:

awk ‘{

if ($1 == “r” && $4 == “tcp”) {

sum += $6

}

} END {

print “Throughput:”, sum / 1000, “kbps”

}’ v2x.tr

  1. Extend the Project
  1. QoS-Aware Communication:
    • Give precedence to messages depends on the metrics like delay, jitter, or packet type.
  2. Handover in V2I:
    • Mimic vertical or horizontal handover among the RSUs within V2I.
  3. Safety Applications:
    • Execute and experiment the V2X use cases such as collision avoidance or traffic management.
  4. Security Features:
    • Integrate aspects like encryption or authentication protocols for secure V2X interaction.
  5. 5G-V2X:
    • We need to replicate the cellular interaction to utilise prolonged NS2 models for V2X.

In the end, we had discovered the basic simulation process on how to implement, simulate and analyse the V2X Communication projects that communication between the vehicles and other entities. If you need additional information regarding the V2X Communication we will provide it too.