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Some electrified vehicles, for example the Toyota Prius, integrate a dc–dc converter between the battery pack and the traction inverter to increase the powertrain efficiency. However, adding this extra converter adversely affects the cost and power density of the powertrain due to the additional components, such as the switches and the inductor, that are expensive and heavy in high-power converters. The concept of the multi-source inverter was previously introduced as an alternative solution to reduce the power rating of the dc–dc converter while keeping similar powertrain performance. In this paper, the implementation of the multi-source inverter in a hybrid power-split powertrain is discussed. The operating modes during both dc–ac and ac–dc conversions are detailed and a prototype is experimentally tested with a load. New control strategies of the proposed powertrain show that three out of five operating modes bring new opportunities in terms of battery charging and power rating reduction of the dc–dc converter. A vehicle-level simulation model is developed in MATLAB/Simulink to quantify the benefits of the proposed topology. Simulations are performed for four drive cycles to compare the power profile of the dc–dc converter of the suggested powertrain with the Toyota Prius. The average power transferred by the dc–dc converter can be reduced by up to 25 $\%$ in most drive cycles tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new topology-reconfigurable capacitive compensation network, aiming to achieve the energy encryption of the contactless charging for multiple electric vehicles (EVs). The proposed variable topology of compensation network consists of an M × N capacitor matrix, where capacitors can be connected either in series or in parallel by controlling switches. Then, the proposed capacitor matrix can be formed in the series-parallel and the series-parallel–series-parallel topologies according to the adjustment of the resonant frequency. In such ways, the proposed topology-reconfigurable capacitor matrix can significantly extend the capacitive compensating range while reducing the number of capacitors, thus effectively enhancing the security performance of multiple-objective contactless charging systems. Finally, this paper gives the simulated and experimental results to verify the theoretical analysis, which can further illustrate the feasibility of the proposed topology-reconfigurable capacitor matrix for the energy encryption of EV contactless charging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports experimental results on self-organizing wireless networks carried by small flying robots. Flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) composed of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are flexible, inexpensive, and fast to deploy. This makes them a very attractive technology for many civilian and military applications. Due to the high mobility of the nodes, maintaining a communication link between the UAVs is a challenging task. The topology of these networks is more dynamic than that of typical mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) and of typical vehicle ad hoc networks. As a consequence, the existing routing protocols designed for MANETs partly fail in tracking network topology changes. In this paper, we compare two different routing algorithms for ad hoc networks: optimized link-state routing (OLSR) and predictive OLSR (P-OLSR). The latter is an OLSR extension that we designed for FANETs; it takes advantage of the Global Positioning System (GPS) information available on board. To the best of our knowledge, P-OLSR is currently the only FANET-specific routing technique that has an available Linux implementation. We present results obtained by both media-access-control (MAC) layer emulations and real-world experiments. In the experiments, we used a testbed composed of two autonomous fixed-wing UAVs and a node on the ground. Our experiments evaluate the link performance and the communication range, as well as the routing performance. Our emulation and experimental results show that P-OLSR significantly outperforms OLSR in routing in the presence of frequent network topology changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a current-fed single-phase inverter without constant intermediate DC link. It eliminates electrolytic capacitor from the DC-link and introduces an intermediate pulsating DC bus. The proposed topology is modular with three full-bridges making it scalable for high-power applications. New pulsating-DC-modulation for back-end pulsating DC-link inverter and secondary modulation (SM) for front-end DC-to-pulsating DC converter is proposed. Soft-switching and device voltage clamping of both primary side and secondary side devices of front-end current-fed full-bridge converter is realized. A rotating partial hybrid pulsewidth modulation has been introduced. One leg of inverter is commutated at a low switching frequency, while the other leg is operated at a high switching frequency for partial period of a line frequency cycle. Thus, switching losses of the back-end inverter are considerably reduced. Rotating mechanism is used to equalize the switching losses of four switches of the inverter. This paper presents detailed operation and analysis of the topology with a proposed modulation scheme. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed modulation scheme as well as soft-switching and performance of the converter. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In typical wireless networks, multihop communication is a method used to establish connectivity between distant nodes. Adapting this technique to vehicular networks requires bypassing several challenging constraints imposed by the nature of vehicular environments (e.g., high mobility and speeds and repetitive link disruptions). This paper revolves around establishing a multihop connectivity path between an isolated source vehicle $S$ and a faraway gateway roadside unit (RSU) $D$ through cooperative vehicles serving as intermediate relays. A stochastic model is formulated for the purpose of deriving an expression for the probability of the existence of a connectivity path between $S$ and $D$. Then, the dynamic changes in the network topology are carefully examined to present a tight upper bound for the average end-to-end packet delivery delay. Finally, taking into account the inherent contention-based nature of the employed IEEE 802.11p medium access control (MAC) protocol, together with several other limiting factors such as relay unavailability and hidden terminals, the per-hop and the end-to-end throughput expressions are presented. Extensive simulations are conducted for the purpose of validating the proposed model and examining the system's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In recent years, Small Satellite Networks (SSNs) are attracting increasing attention due to its economical prospects and advantages in high bandwidth and low latency. More and more companies and organizations are planning to construct large-scale SSNs to provide global services. In this way, the traffic pattern is more complicated because of random transmission requirements and stochastic packet generations/arrivals, and routing faces more challenges due to network scale and limited resource in small satellites. Traditional satellite routing algorithms, which attempt to exploit the predictable satellite's trajectory with time-discrete graph models, cannot handle these challenges. In this paper, we propose a novel Temporal Netgrid Model (TNM) to portray the time-varying topology of large-scale SSNs. In TNM, the whole space is divided into small cubes (i.e., netgrids) and then, satellites can be located by netgrids instead of coordinates. By doing so, we can construct a network topology for random traffic routing. Furthermore, an efficient Netgrid-based Shortest Path Routing (NSR) algorithm is proposed based on TNM; NSR attempts to find the optimal path from source netgrid to any other reachable netgrids. In this way, the routing complexity is significantly reduced. We also develop a Large-scale Satellite Network Simulator (LSNS) to validate our study. The results show that NSR achieves a significant reduction in computational complexity as well as near-optimal routing performance in terms of end-to-end delay and packet drop rate in scenarios of large-scale SSNs compared with existing satellite routing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of mobile underwater sensor networks (UWSNs), such as low communication bandwidth, large propagation delay, and sparse deployment, pose challenging issues for successful localization of sensor nodes. In addition, sensor nodes in UWSNs are usually powered by batteries whose replacements introduce high cost and complexity. Thus, the critical problem in UWSNs is to enable each sensor node to find enough anchor nodes in order to localize itself, with minimum energy costs. In this paper, an energy-efficient localization algorithm (EELA) is proposed to analyze the decentralized interactions among sensor nodes and anchor nodes. A single-leader-multi-follower Stackelberg game is utilized to formulate the topology control problem of sensor nodes and anchor nodes by exploiting their available communication opportunities. In this game, the sensor node acts as a leader taking into account factors such as “two-hop” anchor nodes and energy consumption, while anchor nodes act as multiple followers, considering their ability to localize sensor nodes and their energy consumption. We prove that both players select best responses and reach a socially optimal Stackelberg–Nash Equilibrium. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed EELA improves the performance of localization in UWSNs significantly, and in particular, the energy cost of sensor nodes. Compared to the baseline schemes, the energy consumption per node is about 48% lower in EELA, while providing a desirable localization coverage, under reasonable error, and delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown the importance of realistic micromobility and macromobility modeling in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). At the macroscopic level, most researchers focus on a detailed and accurate description of road topology. However, a key factor often overlooked is a spatiotemporal configuration of vehicular traffic. This factor greatly influences network topology and topology variations. Indeed, vehicle distribution has high spatial and temporal diversity that depends on the time of the day and place attraction. This diversity impacts the quality of radio links and, thus, network topology. In this paper, we propose a new mobility model for vehicular networks in urban and suburban environments. To reproduce realistic network topology and topological changes, the model uses real static and dynamic data on the environment. The data concern particularly the topographic and socioeconomic characteristics of infrastructures and the spatiotemporal population distribution. We validate our model by comparing the simulation results with real data derived from individual displacement survey. We also present statistics on network topology, which show the interest of taking into account the spatiotemporal mobility variation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mechanical hybrid powertrains have the potential to improve the fuel economy of passenger vehicles at a relatively low cost, by adding a flywheel and only mechanical transmission components to a conventional powertrain. This paper presents a systematic approach to optimizing the topology and flywheel size, which are the key design parameters of a mechanical hybrid powertrain. The topology is optimized from a limited set of over 20 existing mechanical hybrid powertrains described in the literature. After a systematic classification of the topologies, a set of four competitive powertrains is selected for further investigation. The fuel-saving potential of each hybrid powertrain is computed using an optimal energy controller and modular component models, for various flywheel sizes and for three certified driving cycles. The hybridization cost is estimated based on the type and size of the components. Other criteria, such as control complexity, clutch wear, and driving comfort are qualitatively evaluated to put the fuel-saving potential and the hybridization cost into a wider perspective. Results show that, for each of the four investigated hybrid powertrains, the fuel-saving benefit returns the hybridization investment well within (about 50%) the service life of passenger vehicles. The optimal topology follows from a discussion that considers all the optimization criteria. The associated optimal flywheel size has an energy storage capacity that is approximately equivalent to the kinetic energy of the vehicle during urban driving (50 km/h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET), high mobility and uneven distribution of vehicles are important factors affecting the performance of routing protocols. The high mobility may cause frequent changes of network topology, whereas the uneven distribution of vehicles may lead to routing failures due to network partition; even high density of vehicles may cause severe wireless channel contentions in an urban environment. In this paper, we propose a novel concept called the microtopology (MT), which consists of vehicles and wireless links among vehicles along a street as a basic component of routing paths and even the entire network topology. We abstract the MT model reflecting the dynamic routing-related characteristics in practical urban scenarios along streets, including the effect of mobility of vehicles, signal fading, wireless channel contention, and existing data traffic. We first analyze the endside-to-endside routing performance in an MT as a basis of routing decision. Then, we propose a novel street-centric routing protocol based on MT (SRPMT) along the streets for VANETs. Simulation results show that our proposed SRPMT protocol achieves higher data delivery rate and shorter average end-to-end delay compared with the performance of greedy perimeter stateless routing (GPSR) and greedy traffic-aware routing (GyTAR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a new approach to designing networks. SDN decouples and migrates network control from the hardware, which enables innovative and efficient network design and operation. The SDN-based design is well adopted in data centers and enterprises. In this paper, we state that SDN-based design is beneficial in the multihop wireless networks like wireless sensor network (WSN) and propose an architecture called SDSense. We propose a novel principled approach of SDN-based WSN design, where we decompose network functions as slow (e.g., topology control) and fast (e.g., congestion control) changing components. Furthermore, we derive a network utility maximization framework for better resource allocation. We implement SDNSense, where software enabled sensors are dynamically reconfigured to adapt to current network conditions and demonstrate that SDSense can significantly improve the network performance compared to its counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swarm unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is an approach to the coordination of multiple UAVs as a system, which has huge advantages on mission capabilities, such as cooperative search, border surveillance, and situation awareness. For better swarm coordination, a robust inter-UAV network, especially in ad hoc mode, is needed. Due to the dynamic nature of UAV networks owing to mobility and topology change, adapting routing quickly to topology changes is one of the key components of UAV networks. Based on investigating the relationship between the swarm formation control and the network topology, we propose a proactive topology-aware scheme to track the network topology change. Through simulations on Qualnet and real-world experiments with five quadrotors, the results confirmed that the proposed scheme reduces the average delay and improves routing performance significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cucker–Smale flocking model is designed to analyze the velocity and position-control mechanisms in a group of living individuals, such as a flock of birds. In this model, each agent (a bird or fish) adjusts its velocity according to its own velocity and the weighted mean of the relative velocities of the other members of the flock. We herein focus on the simple, distributed, and autonomous nature of the flocking model and apply its operating principles to fair resource allocation for vehicle-mounted mobile relays (VMRs) by considering their need for distributed fair resource allocation in various network topologies. By adaptively adjusting the VMR transmission power, the proposed method effectively alleviates the interference between users in vehicles and users directly connected to the base station. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method in the context of the IEEE 802.16j based system. The achievable bandwidth performance of the proposed method is evaluated relative to that of both the fixed power allocation (FPA) method and the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR)-based transmit power control method. The result shows that the proposed method adjusts to various network topologies and provides better achievable bandwidth than both the SINR-based method and the FPA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovering and maintaining efficient routes for data dissemination in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) has proven to be a very challenging problem. Clustering is one of the control protocols used to provide efficient and stable routes for data dissemination. However, the rapid changes in network topology in VANETs creates frequent cluster reformation, which can seriously affect route stability. We propose a novel evolutionary game theoretic (EGT) framework to automate the clustering of nodes and nominations of cluster heads, to achieve cluster stability in VANETs. The equilibrium point is proven analytically and the stability is also tested using Lyapunov function. The performance of the proposed evolutionary game is empirically investigated with different cost functions using static and mobile scenarios. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed EGT approach for different populations and speeds, thus reducing the overhead of frequent cluster reformation in VANETs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]