URCR: UAV-Aided Reputation-Based Cluster Routing in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) play a vital role in enhancing modern transportation systems, facilitating real-time data exchange in dynamic environments. However, VANETs face challenges such as limited range and interference in dense areas. This paper introduces an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided reputation-based cluster routing (URCR) protocol to address issues such as improving data transmission, reducing delay, and lowering hop count. The proposed URCR protocol utilizes VANET clustering, UAV-aided communication, and a Proof-of-Stake based cluster head-toggling algorithm to achieve balanced energy consumption. Blockchain-based reputation management is integrated into the protocol to evaluate the trustworthiness of the member nodes and prevent malicious behavior in the VANET. Simulations using Network Simulator 3 show that URCR improves the average hop count by 47.6% and 15.2%, the packet delivery ratio by 22.9% and 4.3%, and the end-to-end delay by 48.8% and 22.3%, compared to drone-assisted cooperative routing (DACR) and VANET routing with UAV assistance (VRU), respectively.