Fireflies as Role Models for Synchronization in Ad-Hoc Networks

Abstract- Fireflies exhibit a fascinating phenomenon of spon- menstrual periods [6], and people walking next to each other taneous synchronization that occurs in nature: at dawn, they on the street tend to walk in synchrony. gather on trees and synchronize progressively without relying In Section II, we look at experiments that have been made on a central entity. The present article ' reviews this process. ' by looking at experiments that were made on fireflies and the ian order to comp rehend the synchronizaon mechanism. In mathematical model of Mirollo and Strogatz [1], which provides particular, we focus on experiments made on fireflies and key rules to obtaining a synchronized network in a decentralized how this affected their flashing instants, providing interesting manner. This model is then applied to wireless ad hoc networks. insights to compare nature with mathematical models. To properly apply this model with an accuracy limited only to In biological systems distributed synchronization is com-the propagation delay, a novel synchronization scheme, which is derived from the original firefly synchronization principle, is monly mo singathe teory of coupl clors[7]. For presented, and simulation results are given. fireflies, an oscillator represents the internal clock dictating when to flash, and upon reception of a pulse from other I. INTRODUCTION oscillators, this clock is adjusted. Over time, synchronization In certain parts of South-East Asia alongside riverbanks, emerges, i.e. pulses of different oscillators are transmittedsimultaneously. Synchronization in populations of couple