What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop a dynamic RSU role assignment framework that improves content delivery in VANETs under varying conditions.

March 4, 2026Sensors1 citationsOpen Access

PSO-Based Dynamic RSU Role Assignment Framework for Scalable and Reliable Content Delivery in VANETs

YSYongje ShinChungbuk National University HCHyunseok ChoiSeowon University YNYoungju NamKunsan National University

Key Points

To develop a dynamic RSU role assignment framework that improves content delivery in VANETs under varying conditions.
Implemented PSO-based role assignment for RSUs as Leaders, Helpers, and Inactives.
Introduced a telemetry-based suitability estimator to aggregate vital RSU metrics.
Employed adaptive sectoring to manage RSU communication scope dynamically.
Created a virtual replication layer for efficient data localization and request steering.
Developed a reconfiguration policy for load management and energy efficiency.
Improved packet delivery rates compared to traditional methods.
Significantly reduced end-to-end delay and backhaul traffic.
Increased fairness in resource allocation among users.
Demonstrated scalability and robustness under dynamic multi-user conditions.

Abstract

Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) must sustain heterogeneous real-time content services, yet static roadside-unit (RSU) roles lead to congestion, coverage voids, and inefficient content delivery under bursty, concurrent demand. To address this issue, we propose a PSO-Based dynamic RSU role assignment framework named PDRA that dynamically adapts roles, coverage, and replication of RSU to current network conditions. A telemetry-based suitability estimator aggregates location, link stability, resource availability, traffic load, and content sensitivity at each RSU and feeds a Particle Swarm Optimization routine that assigns RSUs to Leader/Helper/Inactive roles while enforcing spatial separation between Leaders. An adaptive sectoring mechanism then resizes each cluster RSU’s communication scope—contracting under overload to protect local latency and expanding during slack to assist neighbors—thereby suppressing void areas and balancing service density. On top of the physical layer of RSUs, Leader RSUs cooperatively form a virtual Replication Layer that maintains global visibility of load and content locality to steer requests and replicate popular data near demand, reducing backhaul reliance. Finally, a load- and energy-aware reconfiguration policy orchestrates staged assist/offload, selective Helper activation, PSO-based Leader reassignment, and sleep scheduling for underutilized RSUs, preserving resilience and sustainability. NS-3 urban scenarios corroborate that PDRA improves packet delivery, lowers end-to-end delay, reduces backhaul traffic, and increases fairness over strong baselines. By jointly optimizing role assignment, coverage control, and replication, PDRA offers a scalable and robust solution for VANET content delivery under dynamic, multi-user conditions.

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