Anarchy versus cooperation on internet of molecular things

Abstract

Using the advances in molecular communications (MCs), nanomachines as a group can undertake complex tasks. With the emergence of Internet of molecular things (IoMT), such nanomachine groups are now larger than ever. However, the minimal design of nanomachines makes cooperation difficult. In this paper, we investigate the performances of anarchic and cooperative transmitters in IoMT. We design an MC game in which nanomachines choose to cooperate or confront. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cooperation and state the possible transmitter personalities using game theoretic principles. Moreover, we focus on methods to ensure cooperation and we explore the optimal transmitter behavior if its partner rejects cooperation. Finally, we deduce that although ensuring cooperation may be done effectively with minimum hardware, anarchy is not necessarily a bad result. We also realize that in case a transmitter rejects cooperation, perpetual confrontation is not a good approach.