In this paper, we explore the strong potential of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies to enable multi-mission small unmanned aircraft systems. In this context, we analyze the main challenges of using NFV technologies in this emergent field, and we present the design of an NFV system that supports the flexible, automated and cost-effective deployment of network services over small unmanned aerial vehicles. To validate our design, we implemented its most relevant components with open-source technologies, using this first prototype of the system to carry out a set of preliminary experiments that showcase its feasibility and functionality.
In this paper, we analyze the main challenges and issues related with the orchestration of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) on Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs). Our analysis considers a reference scenario where a number of SUAVs are deployed over a delimited geographic area and provide a mobile cloud environment that supports the deployment of functionalities using Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technologies. The orchestration of services in this reference scenario presents different challenges, due to the constrained capacity and limited lifetime of battery-powered SUAVs, the intermittent availability of network communications, and the need to consider enhanced policies for the allocation of virtual functions to SUAVs. Finally, we perform a first exploratory evaluation of the identified challenges and issues, using a well-known and widely adopted virtualized infrastructure manager, i.e., OpenStack.
Emerging technological devices, such as Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) and Single Board Computers (SBC), are being increasingly employed in recent years, thanks to the advances in electronics and the wide variety of sensors that are endowed. This paper aims at analyzing the viability of deploying multimedia services, focusing on the voice scenario, over wireless interconnected Micro Air Vehicles (MAV), also known as drones. Toward this end, we assessed the performance both of the embedded wireless cards of current drones and also SBCs, which may be carried as payload in existing UAV solutions. Driven by the results obtained in these experiments, we then deployed an operational VoIP service over a network of commercial MAVs, to perform an experimental analysis on the resource capabilities of these devices and demonstrate that this type of service can certainly be used. KEYWORDSdrone, micro aerial vehicle, single board computer, unmanned aerial vehicle, VoIP, WiFi INTRODUCTIONIn recent years wireless networks have evolved remarkably, optimizing communications between devices and significantly increasing the achievable throughputs, surpassing what wired networks offered a few years ago. For this reason, a plethora of innovative applications have emerged around them. Nowadays, we are witnessing the development of novel micro aerial vehicle platforms (MAVs), also known as drones, which are obtaining an increasing interest from the research community and the industry. With reduced cost and power consumption, compared with larger tactical UAVs, MAVs open new opportunities. MAV infrastructures can be used for instance in scenarios such as, surveying and mapping, civil infrastructure inspection, or precision agriculture. This paper is focused in disaster situations where the cellular network is unavailable, having the potential to help emergency services increasing the efficiency of their work by deploying a Voice over IP service as contemplated in this paper (the MAV network is instantiated to allow 2 devices on the ground to communicate when the cellular network is unavailable). Another use case could be the use of onboard cameras to accurately inspect the disaster area. The combination of both factors, drones and wireless networks, is of great interest, and it is necessary to carry out studies to be able to analyze their performance.The main objective of this paper is the study of MAV networks, examining the feasibility of their connection over wireless networks, performing tests in a real environment with drones. Normally, WiFi networks in MAVs are just used to control the aircraft and to receive video and current trends propose to extend their application. Thus, we are presenting a use case where a VoIP call over a MAV network is deployed.In this context, this paper evaluates wireless networks performance in the 2.4 GHz band, specifically the 802.11n standard. 1 As connection nodes of these networks, 2 types of devices have been used. In the first place, we perform tests using single boards computers (SBC), in part...
The promising combination of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with network virtualisation technologies has positively shown many advantages enabling the deployment of communication services over aerial networks, that is, networks conformed by a set of interconnected UAVs. However, this synergy may certainly involve diverse challenges that must be carefully considered. In this respect, this paper compares some of the most common virtual infrastructure management solutions that could potentially be used to deal with virtualised payloads over aerial networks, identifying their main strength and limitations. The paper also presents a preliminary exploration on the utilisation of the Kubernetes virtual infrastructure management platform to support value-added services over UAV networks, showing off its potential as a suitable platform to this purpose. CCS CONCEPTS• Networks → Ad hoc networks; Network management.
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