WiFi networks on drones

The huge growth in the number of connected wireless devices leads to an increasing demand for network connectivity. In this context, aerial networks may play an important role by widening the concept of access networks. This paper describes and analyzes one of the most promising applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly known as drones, in the field of communications: Extending the capacity or coverage of wireless systems through the deployment of aerial communication networks. We present a comprehensive characterization study of an experimental system to deploy an aerial WiFi network. To do so, an Intel Galileo development board is appropriately configured and equipped as a WiFi node playing either the role of an access point in the infrastructure mode or of an intermediate hop in the ad-hoc operational mode. This device is then integrated onboard a drone. We compare both WiFi modes in terms of coverage area, throughput, and energy efficiency. Preliminary results reveal that there is a trade-off between coverage and data rates, for which the infrastructure mode performs better, and energy efficiency, where the ad-hoc mode is more responsive.

[1]  Lav Gupta,et al.  Survey of Important Issues in UAV Communication Networks , 2016, IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials.

[2]  Evsen Yanmaz,et al.  Survey on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Networks for Civil Applications: A Communications Viewpoint , 2016, IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials.

[3]  Axel Neumann,et al.  Better Approach To Mobile Ad-hoc Networking (B.A.T.M.A.N.) , 2008 .

[4]  Xiongwen Zhao,et al.  Winner Ii Channel Models Authors Partner Name Phone / Fax / E-mail , .

[5]  Tarik Taleb,et al.  A green strategic activity scheduling for UAV networks: A sub-modular game perspective , 2016, IEEE Communications Magazine.

[6]  Sy-Yen Kuo,et al.  Civil UAV Path Planning Algorithm for Considering Connection with Cellular Data Network , 2012, 2012 IEEE 12th International Conference on Computer and Information Technology.

[7]  H.T. Friis,et al.  A Note on a Simple Transmission Formula , 1946, Proceedings of the IRE.

[8]  Rosario Cristóbal Roncero.  Sistema nacional de garantía juvenil (Ley 18/2014, de 15 de octubre, de aprobación de medidas urgentes para el crecimiento la competitividad y la eficiencia) , 2014 .

[9]  Marc St-Hilaire,et al.  Routing in unmanned aerial ad hoc networks: A recovery strategy for Greedy geographic forwarding failure , 2014, 2014 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC).

[10]  Tomoyuki Ishida,et al.  Proposal of Seeking Wireless Station by Flight Drones Based on Delay Tolerant Networks , 2014, 2014 Ninth International Conference on Broadband and Wireless Computing, Communication and Applications.

[11]  Lu Song,et al.  A summary of key technologies of ad hoc networks with UAV node , 2010, 2010 International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Integrated Systems.

[12]  Joonas Säe,et al.  Coverage aspects of temporary LAP network , 2016, 2016 12th Annual Conference on Wireless On-demand Network Systems and Services (WONS).

[13]  Ramon Sanchez-Iborra,et al.  Performance Evaluation of BATMAN Routing Protocol for VoIP Services: A QoE Perspective , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications.

[14]  Horst Bischof,et al.  Evaluations on multi-scale camera networks for precise and geo-accurate reconstructions from aerial and terrestrial images with user guidance , 2017, Comput. Vis. Image Underst..

[15]  Du Yun-lei.  Path planning of unmanned aerial vehicle , 2011 .

[16]  Ismail Güvenç,et al.  UAV assisted heterogeneous networks for public safety communications , 2015, 2015 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference Workshops (WCNCW).

[17]  Sherali Zeadally,et al.  Integration of Cognitive Radio Technology with unmanned aerial vehicles: Issues, opportunities, and future research challenges , 2015, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[18]  Christian Bettstetter,et al.  Experimental analysis of multipoint-to-point UAV communications with IEEE 802.11n and 802.11ac , 2015, 2015 IEEE 26th Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor, and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC).