Analysis of the Functionality of a Mobile Network of Sensors in a Construction Project Supervision System Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Abstract

This manuscript presents the results of a project related to the construction and testing of selected devices included in a space inspection and worker supervision system. The most important components of this system are a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles, a docking station for the automatic charging of many drones, monitoring sensors, and user software that integrates all components responsible for mission planning (UAV raids) and measurement data processing. All components were built according to an original solution. The main part of this manuscript is a description of tests used to verify the functionality of a sensor network for monitoring infrastructural elements and moving objects, including people working on a construction project. As part of this research, procedures for testing sensor networks under laboratory and field conditions were developed. The tests performed demonstrated the ability of the MESH network to self-organize depending on the location of the elements in the network. The system that was built ensured the transmission of data from telemetric devices during UAV flights, regardless of the coverage of terrain by other networks, such as Wi-Fi and GSM networks. Data were sent to the end user via a LAN network based on the IP protocol. The maximum range between devices forming the network and the range limitations caused by various terrain obstacles were also determined.