Fundamental tradeoffs in vehicular ad hoc networks

Abstract

Due to their advantages in terms of safety, efficiency and comfort, Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) have recently drawn the attention of researchers from among a wide spectrum of engineering fields. Although transportation and communications engineers have independently delved into issues related with vehicular networks, analyzing them from their own perspectives; the void of a more comprehensive study which blends the theory of the two and seeks to address their mutual dependencies, is evident in the current literature. In this paper we initiate this surge by studying the interactions of traffic flow, safety and communications capacity within a simple transportation system. To that end we first render mathematical realizations for such criteria and study how the new technology can affect them and their mutual interactions. More specifically, the tradeoffs inherent in the capacity-flow and flow-safety relations have been analyzed. Our study helps foresee the effect of the gradual introduction of communications-enabled vehicles on the safety and efficiency of transportation networks before their actual deployment.