Context-Aware QoS Control for Wireless Mesh Networks of UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can be used in a wide application range. For example, UAVs are utilized to observe critical areas in disaster situations without jeopardizing individuals or to extend the transmission range of communication networks. Connecting a set of UAVs with each other within a Wireless Mesh Network helps to increase the coverage of the observable area. Due to their limited performance and energy resources and, thereby, restricted communication capabilities, a tailored QoS management scheme has to be used to optimize occurring data flows in these networks. We present a QoS control scheme that works on the basis of process-patterns, each describing the context-dependent behavior of UAVs according to the execution order of services for different situations. Furthermore, the logical communication path is optimized within the mesh network based on each node´s areal position using a dynamic hierarchical communication structure. Thereby, performance and fairness within a network of UAVs can be increased demand-actuated.