Co-simulation based platform for wireless protocols design explorations

Longer range, faster speed and stronger link are today's wireless mandatory characteristics. Tremendous efforts are being deployed to create new and improved wireless protocols. However, these new protocols are being tested in harsh and uncontrolled environments. Simulation tools help to capture the expected behavior, but the proposed designs might not work in real life situations due to lack of accurate simulation models. Testbed platforms are able to test designs in real life settings, but the flexibility of the design is reduced and design exploration becomes a complex task. This paper presents a hybrid platform composed of a simulation tool and a testbed environment, which makes it possible easily design and accurately test new wireless protocols.