Performance Evaluation of Multi-UAV Network Applied to Scanning Rocket Impact Area

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Network Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for surveillance and monitoring.
• Effective communication networks are crucial for multi-UAV systems to operate cohesively.
• Existing communication methods may not be optimal for specific operational environments like maritime surveillance near launch centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a robust data communication network for a squadron of UAVs.
• To enable intruder boat detection in the rocket impact area of the Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (CLBI).
• To evaluate the performance, robustness, and reliability of the proposed UAV communication network.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) architecture using XBee Pro 900HP S3B modules.
• Design and integration of embedded hardware and a dedicated communication antenna for UAVs.
• Conducting experimental tests in various communication scenarios and utilizing network management software for performance analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of a data communication network architecture for a UAV squadron.
• Experimental validation of network robustness and reliability across different communication scenarios.
• Performance metrics including throughput, packet loss, signal received quality, range, and latency were measured.

Conclusions:

• The proposed communication network architecture demonstrates high quality and reliable performance for UAV operations.
• The system effectively supports the mission objective of detecting intruder boats in the specified operational area.
• The experimental results confirm the viability and effectiveness of the developed UAV communication system.