UAV Relay Network for Disaster-Resilient Packet Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packets transmitted by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to disaster relief workers are delayed due to the collapse or malfunction of base stations or relay stations near disaster regions.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system utilizing a network of mother and child UAVs, where the mother UAV and child UAVs form a cooperative network to relay packets to a target base station within or outside their signal coverage range, acting as relay stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If base stations or relay stations are used for packet transmission in disaster regions, then communication reliability is improved, but system availability deteriorates when these stations collapse or malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces UAVs as intermediary relay nodes between disaster regions and base stations. When base stations or relay stations collapse or malfunction, the UAV network serves as an alternative communication path, allowing packets to be transmitted through UAVs instead of the failed infrastructure. This mediator approach maintains communication reliability while adapting to the unavailability of traditional stations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If UAV networks are deployed to replace collapsed base stations, then system availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into multiple independent UAV nodes (mother UAV and child UAVs) that form a distributed network. Each UAV operates as an independent unit with simplified individual functionality, but collectively they provide complex relay capabilities. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high availability through redundancy while keeping individual device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAVs are designed with multi-functionality, serving as both communication relays and potential disaster assessment platforms. The mother UAV and child UAVs can perform packet forwarding, network management, and potentially other disaster relief functions. This universality justifies the increased device complexity by providing multiple benefits from a single deployment.
3Speed
If cooperative transmission by mother UAV and child UAVs is used, then transmission speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements cooperative transmission where the mother UAV and child UAVs work together to forward packets. Not all UAVs need to transmit every packet - the system uses partial action where only necessary UAVs participate in each transmission based on their position, battery status, and network conditions. This approach achieves speed improvement through cooperation while controlling energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary transmissions from all nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system and a wireless communication method are provided, and the wireless communication system includes a mother UAV and a plurality of child UAVs. The plurality of child UAVs are wirelessly connected to each other. The mother UAV is wirelessly connected to the plurality of child UAVs and forms a UAV network with the plurality of child UAVs. The mother UAV or one of the plurality of child UAVs receives a packet, and the mother UAV obtains a target base station from the packet or the child UAV which receives the packet. The mother UAV determines whether the target base station lies within the signal coverage range of the UAV network. When the mother UAV determines that the target base station lies within the signal coverage range of the UAV network, the packet is transmitted to the target base station by the UAV network.