UAV-assisted connectivity recovery for intermittent-connectivity mobile ad hoc networks

Network connectivity is a fundamental requirement for the mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). The failure of multiple nodes can disrupt the network connection, turning it into an intermittent-connectivity network. To recover the network connectivity a UAV-assisted algorithm UCRAIN is proposed to provide temporary connection solution for intermittent-connectivity network. Based on the mathematical modelling and analysis of both UAVs and network partitions, a constrained multi-objectives optimisation is developed to maximise the network coverage and minimise the size of coverage overlapping simultaneously. In order to obtain the solution of the multi-objective optimisation, a sine-cosine optimisation algorithm is adopted, which can increase the number of UAVs in a linear pattern, making it insensitive to the node density. The simulation results show that the UCRAIN algorithm can reduce the usage of UAVs by 1/2 to 2/3 comparing to other algorithms. It also has satisfactory performance in packet delivery rate, converge time and transmission delay.