A Survey of Collaborative UAV-WSN Systems for Efficient Monitoring.

Popescu Popescu,Ichim Ichim,Stoican Stoican,Chenaru Chenaru,Stamatescu Stamatescu

doi:10.3390/s19214690

Popescu Popescu, Ichim Ichim + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s19214690

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Abstract

Integrated systems based on wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with electric propulsion are emerging as state-of-the-art solutions for large scale monitoring. Main advances stemming both from complex system architectures as well as powerful embedded computing and communication platforms, advanced sensing and networking protocols have been leveraged to prove the viability of this concept. The design of suitable algorithms for data processing, communication and control across previously disparate domains has thus currently become an intensive area of interdisciplinary research. The paper was focused on the collaborative aspects of UAV–WSN systems and the reference papers were analyzed from this point of view, on each functional module. The paper offers a timely review of recent advances in this area of critical interest with focus on a comparative perspective across multiple recent theoretical and applied contributions. A systematic approach is carried out in order to structure a unitary from conceptual design towards key implementation aspects. Focus areas are identified and discussed such as distributed data processing algorithms, hierarchical multi-protocol networking aspects and high level WSN–constrained UAV-control. Application references are highlighted in various domains such as environmental, agriculture, emergency situations and homeland security. Finally, a research agenda is outlined to advance the field towards tangible economic and social impact.

Highlights

The tendency to use collaborative unmanned aerial vehicle-wireless sensor network (UAV–wireless sensor networks (WSNs))systems for surveillance, exploring and monitoring large regions of interest is increasingly strong today.These systems are able to integrate information from ground (WSN), air (UAV), space and internet
We argued that thereawas an number publications, especially telecommunications community where satellite wasimportant seen as the third of link in hybrid large scale in the the telecommunications telecommunications community community where where aa satellite satellite was was seen seen as as the the third third link link in in hybrid hybrid large large in monitoring systems, which complements as a redundant backhaul the low power radio network of the scale monitoring systems, which complements as a redundant backhaul the low power radio network scale monitoring complements as a redundant backhaul low power radioplatforms
Recent applications go beyond proof of concept systems and include multiple sensor nodes and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), integrated into a large scale, geographically distributed, WSN

Summary

Introduction

Systems for surveillance, exploring and monitoring large regions of interest is increasingly strong today. These systems are able to integrate information from ground (WSN), air (UAV), space (satellite—GPS or equivalent) and internet. The advantage of these collaborative systems has been emphasized for large-scale monitoring [1], increasing mobility, accessibility and reaction time in case of emergency. Field level data is first aggregated at the node level before being relayed through the UAV systems to the central gateway. Salient example of data aggregation methods is represented by consensus algorithms, which allow for distributed agreement locally thereby reducing the burden on the communication channels and reducing overall

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