A Hybrid Routing Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks: Integrating Soccer League Competition and TOPSIS for Energy Optimization

Abstract A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a decentralized, infrastructure-free system composed of mobile nodes that dynamically establish temporary connections. Due to the constant mobility of these nodes, the network topology changes frequently, posing significant challenges for effective routing. To address this, the present study introduces a novel routing protocol aimed at optimizing energy consumption by integrating the Soccer League Competition algorithm with the multi-criteria decision-making method, TOPSIS. The proposed method is structured in two main phases. In the clustering phase, the protocol selects optimal cluster heads by applying the Soccer League Competition and TOPSIS algorithms, using four key criteria: remaining battery power, neighbor count, task load, and node mobility rate. In the routing phase, communication links between cluster heads are established based on available bandwidth and inter-node distance to maintain route stability. Simulations conducted in the OPNET environment demonstrate that the proposed protocol outperforms existing approaches, namely CBP and FRRP, across multiple performance metrics, including throughput, end-to-end delay, packet delivery rate, hop count, and route discovery time.