A Monte Carlo Simulation Model of Inter - Vehicle Communication

De-centralized traffic information systems based on inter-vehicle communication have drawn increasing attention in recent years. In this paper, based on the assumption that inter-vehicle communication is instantaneous relative to vehicle movement, we study multihop connectivity between two equipped vehicles subject to arbitrary distribution patterns of vehicles, market penetration rates, and transmission ranges. After discussing the modeling conceptual framework and definitions, we present a Monte Carlo simulation model of multihop connectivity of instantaneous inter-vehicle communication systems. With three different, well-chosen random number generators, we demonstrate that the Monte Carlo simulation model yields results both consistent with those in literature that consider vehicle mobility and which cross-validate analytical models developed previously. The features of the simulation model facilitate determination of the connectivity of large-scale inter-vehicle communication systems.