WiFi networks on drones

© 2016 International Telecommunication Union. The huge growth in the number of connected wireless devices leads to an increasing demand for network connectivity. In this context, aerial networks may play an important role by widening the concept of access networks. This paper describes and analyzes one of the most promising applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly known as drones, in the field of communications: Extending the capacity or coverage of wireless systems through the deployment of aerial communication networks. We present a comprehensive characterization study of an experimental system to deploy an aerial WiFi network. To do so, an Intel Galileo development board is appropriately configured and equipped as a WiFi node playing either the role of an access point in the infrastructure mode or of an intermediate hop in the ad-hoc operational mode. This device is then integrated onboard a drone. We compare both WiFi modes in terms of coverage area, throughput, and energy efficiency. Preliminary results reveal that there is a trade-off between coverage and data rates, for which the infrastructure mode performs better, and energy efficiency, where the ad-hoc mode is more responsive.