Bio-inspired Routing Algorithms for UAV-based Networks: A Survey

• Published in: Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology pp. 23 - 50
• Main Authors: Kumar, Santosh, Vasudeva, Amol, Sood, Manu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27.07.2025
• ISSN: 1509-4553; 1899-8852
• DOI: 10.26636/jtit.2025.3.2101

Rapid technological advancements, exponential growth, and unique characteristics are the key factors that enhance the usefulness of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in diverse applications, including military, agricultural, commercial, and communications-related fields. The use of UAVs for communication is a recent development that has become a topic of significant interest shown by researchers. A flying ad hoc network (FANET) made up of numerous UAVs cannot be developed without implementing an effective cooperative networking model that enables secure information sharing between UAVs. To achieve reliable and robust communication using FANETs, various design- and routing-related issues must be addressed in an appropriate manner. The use of bio-inspired algorithms for data routing in FANETs may be a promising direction, due to their ability to communicate efficiently in a swarm of devices. This work explores various bio-inspired routing algorithms proposed for transmitting data in UAV-based networks. Furthermore, their performance is evaluated and compared using routing metrics. All unresolved research concerns and prospective study avenues are examined based on the outcomes of the investigation conducted.