How to Begin Implementing a V2X Communication in NS3

To begin executing a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication project in NS3, we can replicate the interaction among vehicles and its environment such as other vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and the network. Below is an in-depth process to get started:

Steps to Begin Implementing a V2X Communication Projects in NS3

Step 1: Understand V2X Communication Concepts

• V2X Modes:
  • V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle): Interaction among vehicles.
  • V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure): Communication with roadside units (RSUs).
  • V2N (Vehicle-to-Network): This V2N interacts with cellular networks such as LTE, 5G.
  • V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian): Communication with pedestrians through the mobile devices.
• Use Cases:
  • Collision avoidance, infotainment, autonomous driving, traffic management.

Step 2: Install and Configure ns3

1. Install ns3:
   • We should download and set up NS3 on the system.
2. Enable Required Modules:
   • It have support for necessary components like WiFi, LTE/5G, 802.11p (WAVE), and Mobility:

./waf configure –enable-modules=wave,lte,mobility,ipv6

./waf build

1. Verify Installation:
   • Execute an instance scripts to confirm installation:

./waf –run wave-simple

./waf –run lte-simple

Step 3: Define the Project Scope

• Scenario:
  • Mimic interaction among the vehicles and RSUs with the support of 802.11p or LTE.
• Metrics:
  • Throughput, latency, packet delivery ratio, or collision rate are performance parameters.
• Environment:
  • Urban or highway including certain mobility models.

Step 4: Set Up the Simulation Environment

1. Create Nodes:
   • Integrate nodes for vehicles and infrastructure:

NodeContainer vehicles;

vehicles.Create(10);

NodeContainer rsus;

rsus.Create(2);

1. Configure Mobility:
   • Replicate the vehicle movements with the support of a mobility pattern:

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantVelocityMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(vehicles);

vehicles.Get(0)->GetObject<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel>()->SetVelocity(Vector(20.0, 0.0, 0.0));

Step 5: Configure V2X Communication Technologies

1. 802.11p (WAVE):
   • Set up communication to leverage 802.11p for V2V and V2I:

YansWifiChannelHelper waveChannel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

YansWavePhyHelper wavePhy = YansWavePhyHelper::Default();

wavePhy.SetChannel(waveChannel.Create());

QosWaveMacHelper waveMac = QosWaveMacHelper::Default();

WaveHelper waveHelper = WaveHelper::Default();

NetDeviceContainer waveDevices = waveHelper.Install(wavePhy, waveMac, vehicles);

1. LTE (V2N):
   • Set LTE for communication among the  vehicles and the network:

Ptr<LteHelper> lteHelper = CreateObject<LteHelper>();

Ptr<PointToPointEpcHelper> epcHelper = CreateObject<PointToPointEpcHelper>();

lteHelper->SetEpcHelper(epcHelper);

NetDeviceContainer lteUeDevices = lteHelper->InstallUeDevice(vehicles);

NetDeviceContainer lteEnbDevices = lteHelper->InstallEnbDevice(rsus);

lteHelper->Attach(lteUeDevices, lteEnbDevices.Get(0));

Step 6: Implement Applications

1. Set Up Traffic Applications:
   • We can configure the traffic applications for message exchanges such as Cooperative Awareness Messages (CAM) or Decentralized Environmental Notification Messages (DENM):

uint16_t port = 8080;

InetSocketAddress address = InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address(“255.255.255.255”), port);

OnOffHelper onOff(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, address);

onOff.SetConstantRate(DataRate(“6Mbps”), 200);

ApplicationContainer apps = onOff.Install(vehicles.Get(0));

apps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

apps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

1. Install Packet Sinks:
   • We need to install packet sinks for receiving messages:

PacketSinkHelper sink(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, address);

ApplicationContainer sinkApps = sink.Install(vehicles);

sinkApps.Start(Seconds(0.0));

sinkApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Step 7: Enable V2X-Specific Features

1. Handover (For V2N Scenarios):
   • Handle handover among the eNodeBs since vehicles transfer:

lteHelper->HandoverRequest(Seconds(5.0), lteUeDevices.Get(0), lteEnbDevices.Get(0), lteEnbDevices.Get(1));

1. Routing Protocols (For V2I/V2V Scenarios):
   • We make use of AODV or custom routing protocols for multi-hop interaction.

Step 8: Collect and Analyze Results

1. Install FlowMonitor:
   • Accumulate network performance parameters using FlowMonitor:

Ptr<FlowMonitor> flowMonitor;

FlowMonitorHelper flowHelper;

flowMonitor = flowHelper.InstallAll();

1. Logging and Visualization:
   • Allow logging to debug:

export NS_LOG=”WaveHelper=level_all|prefix_time”

./waf –run your-script

1. • NetAnim or Gnuplot tools are designed for visualization.

Step 9: Debug and Iterate

• Modify mobility designs, network sets up, and applications to converge project objectives.
• Observe the events such as packet drops or handover initiation with the support of callbacks.

Example: Basic V2X Communication Script

Below is a basic instance of a V2X communication script:

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/wave-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

NodeContainer vehicles;

vehicles.Create(5);

YansWifiChannelHelper channel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

YansWavePhyHelper phy = YansWavePhyHelper::Default();

phy.SetChannel(channel.Create());

QosWaveMacHelper mac = QosWaveMacHelper::Default();

WaveHelper waveHelper = WaveHelper::Default();

NetDeviceContainer devices = waveHelper.Install(phy, mac, vehicles);

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantVelocityMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(vehicles);

vehicles.Get(0)->GetObject<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel>()->SetVelocity(Vector(10.0, 0.0, 0.0));

InetSocketAddress broadcastAddress = InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address(“255.255.255.255”), 80);

OnOffHelper onOff(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, broadcastAddress);

onOff.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, DataRateValue(DataRate(“6Mbps”)));

onOff.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(512));

ApplicationContainer apps = onOff.Install(vehicles.Get(0));

apps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

apps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

In conclusion we all know about how to start and implement the V2X Communication Projects using NS3 environment from these provided mechanisms. Furthermore, we will also deliver required details regarding this project in upcoming manual.