Link Quality and Energy-Based Routing in FANETs: Design and Performance Analysis of LQE-AODV

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based Flying Ad-hoc Networks (FANETs) experience frequent topology changes due to high mobility, necessitating efficient routing protocols. This study proposes the Link Quality and Energy-Aware AODV (LQE-AODV) routing protocol to enhance both energy efficiency and network stability simultaneously in FANET environments. The proposed protocol dynamically selects optimal routes by jointly considering key metrics such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and residual energy. LQE-AODV periodically collects real-time link quality and energy status information, dynamically adjusting the weightage of these factors to maximize reliability and energy efficiency. Additionally, it minimizes unnecessary route discoveries to reduce network overhead. Simulation results demonstrate that LQE-AODV significantly out- performs conventional AODV and existing link quality-based protocols in terms of packet delivery ratio (PDR), energy efficiency, and overall network lifetime. It also ensures stable connectivity and efficient energy management in high-mobility scenarios. This study highlights the potential of designing routing protocols that effectively balance energy efficiency and network performance in FANETs, offering a solid foundation for the real-world deployment of energy-efficient and stable UAV networks.