It can be hard to know the exact behavior of nodes in a self-configuring mesh network protocol, when different topologies and dynamics comes into play. To support this we present the application VisuAAL. VisuAAL uses UPPAAL as a backend to run simulations of wireless protocol models, and helps developers configure, visualize and understand the protocol behavior in dynamic and randomly generated static topologies. We also present the language VisuAAL Query (VQ), which allows developers control over the coloring of nodes and edges in the topology based on arithmetic and boolean expressions using variables in the simulation state.
We have used VisuAAL to simulate mesh networks with hundreds of nodes for a multitude of different protocol specifications and scenarios and show these results. We have also explored techniques to improve the scalability of protocols modeled in UPPAAL.
The companies Neocortec and LinkAiders are working to develop self-configuring mesh network devices that will improve disaster communication. After the end of this project, these companies are planning to use VisuAAL to explore their protocol behavior in a project aimed at disaster relief in the Philippines.