Mesh Networks for Multi-Drone Operations

Extending network coverage in dynamic RF environments using a swarm of mobile aerial nodes with directional antennas operating in the millimeter wave spectrum. The nodes form a mesh network that can adaptively route data around interference sources by steering antenna beams and selecting paths. This allows nodes to mitigate interference and extend range compared to omnidirectional antennas. The nodes can also adjust beam patterns to null out interferers. The millimeter wave frequencies offer higher bandwidth and smaller antennas for compact drone nodes.

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Optimizing the topology and power allocation for large-scale drone swarm networks to improve capacity in the presence of interference. The method involves a two-step optimization procedure. First, given a fixed network topology, an interior point method is used to find the optimal power levels for each drone to maximize network capacity. Then, a network topology optimization is performed by simultaneously finding the best connections between drones and their power levels to further increase capacity subject to constraints. The method handles interference from jammers and internal drone interference by introducing redundant variables and converting non-convex constraints into easier forms.

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Ad hoc wireless mesh network system for robust, flexible, and scalable communication in challenging environments. The system uses a mesh network topology where nodes forward data packets. Nodes can be gateways, repeaters, or terminals. The gateway connects to other networks, the repeater extends range, and terminals access services. The mesh network self-configures when nodes move or fail. It provides coverage extension, redundancy, and resilience compared to point-to-point links. The nodes have features like channel selection, video compression, error correction, and interference mitigation.

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Heterogeneous network communication method for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground vehicles in dynamic clusters. The method uses a hierarchical opportunistic routing protocol that combines the energy efficiency of opportunistic routing with the low latency of geographic routing. Ground vehicles use opportunistic routing and UAVs use geographic routing. Clustering based on signal strength and obstructions helps deploy UAVs at critical locations. This avoids routing holes and improves connectivity.

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A dynamically deployed wireless communication network for exploring hazardous environments like caves, tunnels, mines, and underwater. The network allows robotic explorers to maintain communication with a base station as they traverse unknown areas by autonomously deploying ad hoc mesh nodes. The explorers extend the network by deploying nodes when signal strength drops below a threshold. This dynamically adapts the network topology to suit the environment and enables communication throughout.

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Network topology control for large-scale drone clusters to improve communication efficiency, fault tolerance, and robustness. The method involves estimating dynamic path changes based on drone flight information, adaptively adjusting communication overhead, calculating node lifespans, reconfiguring important nodes, and reconstructing the topology. This allows autonomous optimization and adaptation of the drone network structure in response to environmental changes and task requirements.

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Self-organizing communication network topology for collaborative drone operations that allows drones to autonomously form adaptive networks for collaborative missions. The network structure allows drones to connect and communicate with each other as well as the ground station. The network dynamically adjusts when nodes join, leave, or fail to maintain functionality. It enables drones to coordinate and share information without relying on centralized control. This allows extended range, depth, and resilience for collaborative drone missions compared to centralized or distributed architectures.

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Dual-frequency heterogeneous ad hoc network data link for reliable long-distance communication between platforms like military unmanned vehicles. The system uses a central star-shaped link over a long-range frequency like L band, and a non-central mesh link over a short-range frequency like U band. The central star link has a central node and child nodes, and the mesh link connects child nodes when their central link quality is poor or broken. This provides fallback and redundancy through the mesh link while leveraging the central star's real-time capability. The dual frequencies mitigate interference.

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Method and system for reliable networking of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using adaptive multi-hop transmission to improve connectivity and stability. The method involves prioritizing transmission in the same link and then hopping to adjacent links when congestion exceeds 95%. This prevents disconnections from isolating UAVs. The system has multiple UAVs forming transmission packets with at least one link per UAV. Long-range links are repaired instead of adding nodes, while short-range links use multiple nodes to maintain distance.

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UAV network routing method that improves stability and reliability of data transmission in spectrum interference environments. The method combines a table-driven routing protocol with a radio environment map to model the network topology as a weighted graph. Nodes allocate weights based on neighbor count, then use interference area info from the map to quickly detect faulty nodes and recalculate routes that bypass interference areas. This avoids packet loss and combines network and physical layers for stable routing in spectrum interference.

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Self-organizing network for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that allows UAVs to communicate with each other and ground stations without relying on fixed infrastructure. The network uses satellite links and mesh networking to connect a command center, portable satellite station, UAV swarm, ground mobile base, and individual soldiers. The UAV swarm can operate autonomously with direct links between UAVs and ground stations. The satellite station provides connectivity to the UAV swarm when out of range of ground stations. The command center coordinates the network and has satellite links to the satellite station and ground stations. This allows UAVs to communicate with each other and ground stations without relying on fixed infrastructure.

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Constructing a dynamic network topology for swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that adapts to changing network conditions. The network has two levels: a first level with fixed cluster heads formed by medium/large UAVs, and a second level with temporary cluster heads formed by small UAVs. The small UAVs communicate with the fixed cluster heads through their temporary cluster heads. This allows flexible network organization that can quickly adapt to node mobility and topology changes.

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Wireless control system for large networks with improved efficiency and reliability compared to conventional flooding-based methods. The system uses a hybrid network topology combining mesh and star networks. Nodes have separate roles in the mesh (routing) and star (local control) networks. This allows efficient routing around dense node clusters while avoiding collisions. Mesh nodes use multi-hop routing, star nodes have point-to-point links. The topology leverages different protocols with separate frequency bands to enable concurrent communication.

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Communication method for wireless mesh networks using LoRa technology. It involves constructing a network topology with coordinators and terminals, a wireless protocol stack, and a private communication protocol. The coordinators form a mesh network, terminals connect to them. The protocol stack has layers for physical, access, network, application. It uses LoRa for long-range transmission. The private protocol allows terminals to request addresses from coordinators. This method enables multi-hop routing between terminals via coordinators.

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Hybrid wireless sensor network system for field activities that combines long-range and short-range communication to provide reliable, flexible, and battery-efficient communication over long distances. The system has a hybrid network topology with a star network for point-to-point communication between terminals and an MESH network between gateways and relays. The star network uses fixed gateways and terminals for direct communication, while the MESH network with relays provides routing and synchronization for long-range coverage. This allows extending the range beyond terminal limits without needing relays at every hop. The hybrid topology balances range, reliability, and complexity.

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Reducing network load and improving transmission rate in a wireless mesh network by having each relay node determine if it's the root node based on conditions, and having child nodes connect to a specific parent node found through scanning. This ensures each child node has only one parent and one root in its path, reducing network complexity. Data is transmitted directly between parent and child nodes, avoiding multiple hops.

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A method for constructing a self-organizing network that allows unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to cooperate in dynamic environments without infrastructure. The network is composed of multiple, independent subnetworks that interconnect and communicate with each other. UAVs connect to their nearest subnetwork, and ground control stations connect to UAVs' subnetworks. UAVs use one networking mode within their subnetwork, while UAVs and ground stations use a different mode between subnetworks. This allows a self-organizing ad hoc network with robustness and flexibility.

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Connecting a mesh node to a mesh network when it cannot connect using the default physical layer due to range limitations. The method involves the mesh node detecting that it needs long-range connectivity, broadcasting a request, and receiving a response from another mesh node indicating support for connecting using long-range. This allows the node to request and establish a connection over a long-range bearer instead of the default one.

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Maximizing network connectivity using drones as relays when a limited number of drones are available. The method involves having ground nodes self-organize into sub-networks, and then selecting drone deployment locations to connect those sub-networks. The selection is done using a heuristic greedy algorithm that iteratively adds sub-networks until the drone limit is reached, prioritizing sub-networks with the most disconnected nodes. This prevents falling into local optima by connecting distant sub-networks. The algorithm keeps track of the restored connectivity count for comparison if it exceeds the drone limit.

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Enhanced LDACS system that improves the performance and efficiency of the L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) by adding advanced features like voice, data, A-PNT, enhanced security, UAS, channel aggregation, and more. The enhanced LDACS uses a mesh network topology to connect aircraft and ground stations, allowing for peer-to-peer communications and device-to-device communications. The mesh network enables more advanced LDACS features and services, while also improving the system's resilience and performance.

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