RL-based Transmission Power Control Algorithm for Interference Minimization in UAV Swarms

Advancements in embedded system technology and wireless communication have facilitated the extensive use of micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in civil and public service applications. Given their high survivability, broad coverage, efficient task execution, and significant autonomy, micro UAVs are assembled into a networked aerial robot system, termed as a UAV swarm, to undertake information gathering and control tasks. The pronounced mobility of these systems frequently leads to variations in the distance between the UAV node and its adjacent nodes, engendering a highly dynamic topology, altering link bandwidth, and interference. These phenomena can potentially degrade the performance and reliability of communication within the UAV swarm. Acknowledging that dependable communication is pivotal for UAV swarm control and coordination, this paper introduces an RL-based power control algorithm to mitigate interference among UAV nodes in a UAV swarm. Our approach dynamically modulates the transmission power level to maintain a high-quality wireless link within the UAV swarm. Simulation outcomes demonstrate that our method can enhance the network performance of the UAV swarm under highly dynamic topologies.