COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND QOS EVALUATION FOR FORMATION CONTROL OF UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to design efficient communication networks for the formation control of multiple distributed Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). First, a hybrid communication network architecture, combining remote communication and wireless Ad hoc network technology is proposed. Second, an improved Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is adopted to prolong the life cycle of the communication network of the USV fleet. Subsequently, some QoS indicators of the USV communication network are evaluated by establishing wireless network channel model and Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) model. In particular, the packet error ratio, average time delay and connectivity under different formation architecture are investigated. Finally, some discussions and future work on the QoS of the USV communication network are concluded.