An Efficient Framework for Data Dissemination in Multi UAV Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are self-abundant flying robots, which provide efficient, low-complex, critical connectivity and concordance coverage. Multiple UAVs form an autonomous connected communication network which has revolutionized both civilian and military aviation and paved in towards unprecedented innovations in the area of infrastructure less connectivity. UAVs are sometimes interpreted as and are equated to mobile connected devices, however, UAVs demand extra features and advance planning towards network formations, transmission scheduling, data dissemination, trajectory and velocity planning and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. It is copiously acknowledged and proved with simulations, real time research and industry modelings that aerial and ground networks can come together and perform complex tasks uplifting the barriers of energy, environment, geography and trajectory. The works presented in this thesis target data dissemination is multi UAV ad hoc networks. Both transmission scheduling and aerial mobility aspects of data dissemination are presented. Initially, an efficient data dissemination scheme for multi-UAV assisted Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is presented. The WSN network formations constantly suffer from depleting charge forcing the topology into constant reconfiguration. On account of rapidly depleting and re-configuring ground nodes a data dissemination framework is presented. In order to facilitate data aggregation and transmission a virtual topology is constructed by exploiting aerial network formation and Software Defined Networks (SDN). The topology is constantly monitored and reconfigured when required. An effective and efficient sleep timer and back-off counter is also proposed on accord of depleting energy. Building upon the transmission scheduling framework, two UAV Mobility/Trajectory Frameworks for enhanced coverage and data dissemination in multi-UAV ad hoc networks are presented.