5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • FAQs
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • Wireless Design
  • Learn
    • 5G Videos
    • Ebooks
    • EE Training Days
    • FAQs
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars/Digital Events
  • Handbooks
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Resources
    • Design Guide Library
    • EE World Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • Engineering Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

New Energy-Efficient Algorithm Keeps UAV Swarms Helping Longer

By dmiyares | June 12, 2019

A new energy-efficient data routing algorithm developed by an international team could keep unmanned aerial vehicle swarms flying — and helping — longer, report an international team of researchers this month in the journal Chaos, from AIP Publishing. 

UAV swarms are cooperative, intercommunicating groups of UAVs used for a wide and growing variety of civilian and military applications. In disaster response, particularly when local communications infrastructure is destroyed, UAV swarms linked to one or more local base stations act as eyes in the sky, providing first responders with crucial damage and survivor information. 

“The battery capacity of UAVs is a critical shortcoming that limits their usage in extended search and rescue missions,” said co-author Wuhui Chen, a researcher at China’s Sun Yat-Sen University. 

Much of a UAV’s energy use can be related to high bandwidth and long transmission times — think of the drain on the battery of your phone in such cases. To address this, Chen and colleagues have developed a UAV swarm data routing algorithm that uses the strength of the group to maximize real-time transmission rates and minimize individual UAV battery challenges. 

Their new hybrid computational approach combines linear programming and a genetic algorithm to create a “multi-hop” data routing algorithm. A genetic algorithm solves chaotic optimization problems using an analogue of natural selection, the process that drives biological evolution. 

In real time, the new adaptive LP-based genetic algorithm (ALPBGA) identifies the lowest communications energy route within a swarm and simultaneously balances out individual UAV power use, for example, by determining which UAV will beam information to a base station. 

“By balancing power consumption among the UAVs, we significantly enhance the ability of the whole system,” said Patrick Hung, a co-author at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Canada. “Our simulations show that our approach can outperform the existing state of the art methods.” 

These computer simulations show that, especially as swarm size increases from 10 to hundreds of UAVs, ALPBGA reduces the number of UAVs that stop communicating by 30% to 75% compared to existing leading UAV swarm communication algorithms. 

“We believe the results of our research will inspire others to design more energy-efficient UAV communication systems,” said Chen, who plans to extend the ALPBGA research to optimize it within the context of different swarm flying trajectories. 


Filed Under: Wireless Design and Development

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Related Articles Read More >

2.4 GHz chip antennas connect IoT devices to networks
Second-generation tech extends range by 50 percent
Sequans announces production of latest LTE module
Transceiver supports 2.4 GHz ISM and SATCOM

Featured Contributions

  • Overcome Open RAN test and certification challenges
  • Wireless engineers need AI to build networks
  • Why AI chips need PCIe 7.0 IP interconnects
  • circuit board timing How timing and synchronization improve 5G spectrum efficiency
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G for FWA need testing
More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“5g
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

Engineering Training Days

engineering
“bills
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search 5G Technology World