Multi‐UAV cooperative trajectory optimisation for a multi‐hop UAV relaying network

Abstract

Abstract In this letter, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assisted data collection scenario is considered in the Internet of Things (IoT), where a multi‐hop UAV relaying network is constructed for real‐time data transmission. Taking the minimisation of the completion time of data collection, a non‐convex multi‐UAV trajectory optimisation problem is formulated, and it is converted to a cooperative hover position selection problem when “Hover‐Forwarding” data transmission mode is adopted. “Equal Distance” hover location selection scheme is proposed and analysed theoretically, based on which, an improved adaptive differential evolution algorithm (IADEA) is proposed to solve the hover position selection problem effectively. Simulation results show that IADEA can achieve an objective value that is no more than 8% higher than the optimal value, and it is more efficient than traditional genetic algorithm.

Keywords

• Optimisation techniques
• Mobile radio systems
• Optimisation techniques
• Spatial variables control
• Aerospace control
• Control applications in radio and radar