Performance evaluation testbed for emerging relaying and coding algorithms in Flying Ad Hoc Networks

In this article we present the testbed for performance evaluation of emerging relaying and coding algorithms in Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs). Using the testbed, we could estimate Quality of Service (QoS) metrics for video streaming in FANETs. This testbed could be used to estimate the distance of direct communication between the ground station and the flying robot and to measure effectiveness of routing protocols for ad hoc networks (e.g., B.A.T.M.A.N.). The testbed includes the ground station (the laptop with special software), the flying robot (unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV) and several Raspberry Pi. We used this equipment in three scenarios. In the first scenario, the flying robot streamed video to the laptop. We analyzed QoS metrics with help of Wireshark and found the maximal range of direct communication without packet loss between nodes using our Wi-Fi dongles. In the second scenario, we set a movement path for radio controlled flying robot and compared the planned route to actual coordinates. In the third scenario we created wireless ad hoc network of three Raspberry Pi devices with B.A.T.M.A.N. protocol to test connectivity in the network between the source and the destination. Thus, we propose the testbed for future evaluation of emerging relaying and coding algorithms in FANET.