Topology Control in Aerial Multi-Beam Directional Networks

In multi-beam directional networks, nodes are able to simultaneously transmit to all neighbors or receive from all neighbors. This spatial reuse allows for high throughputs, but in dense networks can cause significant interference. Topology control (i.e., selecting a subset of neighbors to communicate with) is vital to reduce the interference. Good topology control balances the number of links utilized to achieve fewer collisions while maintaining robust network connectivity. In this work, we discuss the underlying challenges to topology control in multi-beam direction networks. Two topology control algorithms are developed: a centralized algorithm that retains robust connectivity at the cost of reduced throughput, and a distributed algorithm that offers higher throughput but with fewer links in the network. The performance of these algorithms is demonstrated by simulation using real beam patterns from a seven-element uniform linear array.