UAV NETWORKS in IoT

Features of UAV Networks

• Mesh or Star networks.
• Flexible deployment and management of new service using SDN.
• Routing protocol be adaptive in nature.
• Contribution towards greening of the network.
• Multi-tasking.
• Large converage area.
• Easily reconfigurable for varying missions.

Key Issues

• Frequently change in network topology.
• Relative position of UAV may change.
• Malfunctioning of UAVs.
• Intermittent link nature.
• Lack of suitable routing algorithm.

Considerations in UAV Networks

UAV Network Constraints

UAV Network Advantage

UAV Network Topology : Star

• Typically two types -

          - Star configuration.
          - Multi-star Configuration .

• In Star Configuration , UAV is directly connected to the ground station.
• In Multi-star Configuration, UAVs form multiple star topology . One node from each group connects to the ground station.
• High latency.
• Highly dependent on ground station.

UAV Network Topology : Mesh

• Typically two types -

            - Flat Mesh Network,
            - Hierarchical Mesh Network.

• Flexible
• Reliable
• Nodes are interconnected
• More secure

UAV Topology Comparison

FANETs : Flying Ad Hoc Networks

• Network formation using UAVs which ensures longer range, clearer line of sight propagation and environment-resilient communication.
• UAVs may be in same plane or organized at varying altitudes.
• Besides self-control, each UAV must be aware of the other flying nodes of the FANET to avoid collsion.
• Popular for disaster-time and post-disaster emergency network establishment.

Feartures :

• FANET Inter-plane communication
• FANET Intra-plane communication
• FANET - Ground Station communication
• FANET - Ground Sensor communication
• FANET - VANET communication

Ad-Hoc FANETs

• A2A links for data delivery among UAVs.
• Heterogeneous radio interfaces can be considered in A2A links, such as XBee-PRO (IEEE 802.15.4) and Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11).
• Ground networks may be stationary WSNs or VANETs or Control stations.
• UAV-WSN link-up may be used for collaborative sensing as well as data-muling.

FANETs & VANETs