Reliable Flying Ad Hoc Networks for Civil-Military Mission Critical Applications (FANET-MCA)

Important results from the project

Insights for design, implementation and optimization of UAV-based FANETs include strong potential for disaster response with intelligent clustering and realistic fading models for reliable communication in challenging scenarios. Understanding scattering effects is critical to optimizing performance in complex environments. Dynamically adjusted FEC codes improve security and efficiency, especially with a focus on directional antennas to reduce detection risks.

Expected long term effects

The dissemination of results via peer-reviewed publications in international conferences ensures that the project’s contributions have a lasting impact on airborne communications and the development of robust and secure FANET solutions. The project’s horizontal approach and focus on interoperability will be crucial to drive the deployment of reliable FANETs across different sectors, which will benefit society through improved SA, disaster response and other critical applications.

Approach and implementation

Various UAV configurations were explored for suitability, including fixed-wing and VTOL designs. Three COM architectures were explored: Ad-Hoc, Multi-Group and Multi-Layer networks. Multi-Layer proved most suitable and allows ground-based components within each group, in line with the project requirements. A scenario-based integration between WP2 and WP3 has been implemented to facilitate vertical integration. This allows evaluation of the performance of the COM protocol in the selected scenario