Efficient Multi-UAV-Aided Communication Service Deployment in Disaster-Resilient Wireless Networks

Abstract

In times of disaster, a flexible and responsive emergency communication network is essential for saving lives and properties, especially after incidents such as hurricanes and floods when terrestrial base stations are not operational. Under such conditions, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as aerial base stations is a promising solution due to their agility, mobility, and flexibility. In this work, we deploy multiple UAVs in 3D space with the goal of maximizing total user service time while satisfying users' Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. Our proposed method divides the target area into several regions based on the Voronoi Diagram to effectively serve dynamic user distribution. By moving circles in each region, we can discover the optimal placement of service areas. Then, we deploy UAVs to service areas with maximum total service time. Our simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in the total service time while fulfilling the QoS requirements of all served users.