Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Alex Fleshman

Publication Date

2-1-2012

Abstract

This thesis utilized known information about a dynamic graph in which resource needy nodes act as relays for control information to a supplier node in order to characterize system performance and analyze the effects of change on the system. The connectivity, or information sharing, was based on distance and since every node moved around a defined space, the connectivity of the graph changed constantly. Several different controllers and scenarios are investigated in order to extract the uniqueness in each performance curve which created a better understanding of this near nondeterministic system. One such application for this dynamic system is the automation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This paper utilizes the UAV example in order to bring life, and motivate this research. Note that there are many other applications and problems with similar voids in understanding that this approach could be applied. The United States Department of Defense is increasingly utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to support current operations. As of August 2010, there were 207 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sorties flown per day to provide essential battlespace situational awareness for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom [1]. This paper proposes an implementation of an autonomous UAV network that assumes cutting edge technologies can be combined to provide infinite' ISR over a given area. The particular dynamics of this problem are characterized using systems techniques while changes to the performance factors on the system are found using information about the root system.'

Keywords

Vehicular ad hoc networks (Computer networks), Drone aircraft--Automatic control.

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Electrical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Christodoulou, Christos

Second Committee Member

Fierro, Rafael

Third Committee Member

N/A

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