Comparative Analysis of MANET Routing Protocols Focusing on QoS Metrics and Energy Efficiency

Abstract

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) represent a class of decentralized, infrastructure-less wireless networks characterized by dynamic topologies and self-organizing nodes. The performance of these networks is critically dependent on the routing protocols employed, which directly influence both Quality of Service (QoS) metrics—such as end-to-end delay, throughput, packet delivery ratio, and jitter—and energy consumption. Efficient routing is particularly significant in hardware-constrained and embedded systems environments, where battery-operated nodes must sustain reliable communication while minimizing power usage. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of widely used MANET routing protocols, encompassing proactive, reactive, and hybrid strategies, with a dual focus on QoS performance and energy efficiency.
An integrated evaluation framework is developed to systematically assess protocol behavior under varying node mobility, traffic loads, and network densities. The framework incorporates quantitative measurement of latency, throughput, packet delivery ratio, and energy expenditure at both node and network levels, enabling a multidimensional assessment of protocol effectiveness. Proactive protocols are analyzed for their low-latency and high delivery reliability, while reactive protocols are evaluated for their energy-conserving on-demand route discovery mechanisms. Hybrid protocols are examined for their ability to balance trade-offs between QoS performance and energy consumption.
Results indicate that protocol selection must be context-specific, as no single routing strategy achieves optimal performance across all metrics simultaneously. Proactive protocols consistently deliver superior packet delivery and throughput in stable topologies but incur higher energy costs, whereas reactive protocols conserve energy under low-traffic conditions but may experience increased latency and variable packet delivery under high mobility. Hybrid protocols provide intermediate performance, demonstrating potential for adaptive network deployments. Critical analysis highlights the inherent trade-offs between energy efficiency and QoS performance, with implications for hardware engineers and embedded systems designers seeking to optimize MANET deployments in real-world scenarios.
This research contributes a unified, quantitative framework for routing protocol evaluation, bridging the gap between theoretical protocol analysis and practical application. By integrating QoS and energy considerations, the study offers actionable insights for protocol selection, network design, and performance optimization in energy-constrained and mobility-sensitive environments. The findings also underscore the importance of adaptive,  
context-aware routing strategies to meet the dual objectives of sustainable network operation and high service quality. The proposed framework establishes a foundation for future innovations in energy-aware MANET protocol development and supports evidence-based decision-making for hardware and embedded system implementations (Quy, 2019).