Cooperative UAV Scheme for Enhancing Video Transmission and Global Network Energy Efficiency

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Network Engineering

Background:

• Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs) using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are crucial for autonomous systems.
• Maintaining network connectivity and video transmission quality is challenging due to UAV energy consumption and dynamic topology.
• Limited energy resources impact FANET operation, leading to disconnections, route failures, and reduced monitoring duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a cooperative UAV scheme, VOEI, for enhancing video transmission and global energy efficiency in FANETs.
• To ensure Quality of Experience (QoE) for video streaming while maintaining node connectivity and extending network operational time.
• To address the energy consumption challenges in UAV-based FANETs through intelligent routing and node replacement strategies.

Main Methods:

• The study utilizes a Software Defined Network (SDN) paradigm with a centralized controller.
• VOEI computes energy-efficient routes and determines optimal UAV replacement times based on global FANET context.
• The scheme considers energy consumption associated with UAV movements for efficient operations.

Main Results:

• VOEI effectively mitigates energy challenges in FANETs, preventing network death, route failures, and void areas.
• The proposed scheme avoids network partitioning, outperforming state-of-the-art algorithms.
• VOEI ensures consistent video delivery with suitable Quality of Experience (QoE) to end-users.

Conclusions:

• VOEI successfully enhances energy efficiency and operational longevity in UAV-based FANETs.
• The scheme provides reliable connectivity and superior video transmission quality compared to existing methods.
• VOEI offers a robust solution for long-term environmental monitoring and data transmission using FANETs.