Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for determining a route in a network. A method according, to one embodiment includes determining a set of neighbor nodes that are within wireless communications range of a current node, determining that a route is needed from a source to a destination node, selecting a first neighbor node that is located closest to the destination node as the next hop in the route, and sending:a route-request message to the first neighbor node. The process continues on a hop-by-hop basis until reaching the destination node, whereupon a route-reply message is sent beck to the source node confirming that the route has been determined.