Communication Among Heterogeneous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Classification, Trends, and Analysis

In the past decade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become a major research topic in robotics, despite their existence since 1915. UAVs can perform various activities efficiently and effectively; therefore, involving a group of UAVs in performing a certain task has become a growing research trend. Research involving multiple UAVs has been carried out in various areas such as force protection, warfare in the military, remote sensing, disaster response activities, and surveillance. While performing critical tasks, efficiency and robustness are important considerations that can be achieved by involving heterogeneous UAV teams with effective communication and coordination techniques. Communication among heterogeneous UAVs is an interesting and critical research area that needs to be thoroughly explored. In this research, an evidence-based approach is adopted to explore research carried out on multiple heterogeneous UAVs and their communication patterns while performing various activities. A mapping study research technique is employed to systematically collect, analyze, and assess the evidence available on the topic under discussion. The time period defined for this study was set from 2005 to 2019, and 46 primary studies were considered for thematic analysis. The findings show that research studies fall under the category of validation research by constructing simulations to provide a proof-of-concept implementation of the proposed solutions. The communication patterns among heterogeneous UAVs involve various components of UAV communication, networking, formation, and path planning. The application areas that were largely focused on were search, rescue, monitoring, and surveillance missions. The overall trend showed that interest in multiple heterogeneous UAV usage increases over time with a focus on UAV networks, formations, and path planning while considering communication as an implicit part of all these structures. This research has conducted an in-depth analysis of existing research on heterogeneous UAVs and provides classification and trends of various themes emerging within this research area.