Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are an emerging type of wireless networking, in which mobile nodes associate on an extemporaneous or ad hoc basis. MANETs are both self-forming and self-healing, enabling peer-level communications between mobile nodes without reliance on centralized resources or fixed infrastructure.
These attributes enable MANETs to deliver significant benefits in virtually any scenario that includes a cadre of highly mobile users or platforms, a strong need to share IP-based information, and an environment in which fixed network infrastructure is impractical, impaired, or impossible. Key applications include disaster recovery, heavy construction, mining, transportation, defense, and special event management.
