VANET Simulators

Classification of VANET Simulators

VANET simulators are generally classified into two types:

• Microscopic Simulators – Focus on local vehicle behavior such as velocity, acceleration, and position at specific times. They are scalable and suitable for detailed traffic modeling.
• Macroscopic Simulators – Focus on global traffic conditions using wave theory concepts. They analyze parameters such as vehicle density and average speed to simulate overall traffic flow.

Architecture of VANET Simulators

The architecture of VANET simulators consists of two main components: Network components for simulating wireless communication, and Traffic components for generating realistic vehicle mobility models.

Popular VANET Simulators

Some widely used VANET simulation tools are:

• MOVE – Mobility model generator for vehicular networks
• SUMO – Simulation of Urban Mobility
• CARISMA – Traffic simulator integrated with NS2

Simulation Example

In this simulation example, vehicles are modeled as mobile nodes, each continuously sharing its position and speed with others. This communication allows vehicles to avoid collisions, manage congestion, and ensure smoother traffic flow across the network.