Complex Field Network Coding for Multi-Source Multi-Relay Single-Destination UAV Cooperative Surveillance Networks.

Area of Science:

• Wireless Communication
• Network Engineering
• Aerial Networks

Background:

• Relay-based cooperative communication in UAV networks offers spatial diversity, expanded coverage, and increased capacity.
• Multi-source, multi-relay, single-destination structures are common in UAV cooperative surveillance networks, resembling network coding (NC) architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Complex Field Network Coding (CFNC) into UAV surveillance networks for higher throughput.
• To propose two irregular topology structures for CFNC-based UAV networks, considering direct source-destination links.

Main Methods:

• Investigated two downlink information transfer mechanisms: mixed and relay transmission modes.
• Developed two irregular topology structures tailored for CFNC in UAV networks.
• Conducted theoretical analysis and simulations using an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel.

Main Results:

• CFNC achieved a throughput of 1/2 symbol per source per channel use.
• CFNC in proposed irregular structures demonstrated superior reliability due to full diversity gain compared to regular structures.
• Reliability can be further enhanced by integrating channel coding and modulation, albeit with a rate reduction.

Conclusions:

• CFNC is a viable and effective technique for enhancing throughput and reliability in UAV cooperative surveillance networks.
• The proposed irregular network structures combined with CFNC provide significant performance gains.
• Trade-offs between reliability and rate can be managed through advanced coding and modulation techniques.