Algorithm to Collect Data with a UAV in an IEEE 802.15.4 Sensor Network with Linear Topology

Collecting data from sensor nodes that are part of large-scale linear infrastructures, such as monitoring pipelines to transport oil, is challenging when wireless connectivity and the IEEE 802.15.4 standard are used. Due to rapid deployment, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to collect data from the nodes is a low-cost and portable alternative. Furthermore, using a UAV avoids creating multi-hop linear topologies, which demand computer capacity and energy resources. In this context, this paper proposes an algorithm for collecting data from IEEE 802.15.4-enabled nodes using a UAV. The proposal avoids implementing network and transport layer protocols and is tested on a prototype using a UAV and several wireless sensor nodes. The results demonstrate that UAV-enabled data collection is a practical and feasible solution in a linear topology wireless sensor network.