Mobile Systems Research with Drones

Devising Mobile Sensing and Actuation Infrastructure with Drones

Vast applications and services have been enabled as the number of mobile or sensing devices with communication capabilities has grown. However, managing the devices, integrating networks or combining services across different networks has become a new problem since each network is not directly connected via back-end core networks or servers. The issue is and has been discussed especially in wir...

Vehicle Routing with Drones

We introduce a package service model where trucks as well as drones can deliver packages. Drones can travel on trucks or fly; but while flying, drones can only carry one package at a time and have to return to a truck to charge after each delivery. We present a heuristic algorithm to solve the problem of finding a good schedule for all drones and trucks. The algorithm is based on two nested loc...

Mobile Networks Connected Drones: Field Trials, Simulations, and Design Insights

Drones are becoming increasingly used in a wide variety of industries and services and are delivering profound socioeconomic benefits. Technology needs to be in place to ensure safe operation and management of the growing fleet of drones. Mobile networks have connected tens of billions of devices on the ground in the past decades and are now ready to connect the flying drones in the sky. In thi...

Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (drones)

Studying volcanic eruptions with aerial drones.

In 1984, the volcano Mauna Loa erupted in Hawaii, sending ribbons of lava winding down its slopes. Geologist and former pilot David Pieri of the California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory wanted to get measurements and observation of every part of the lava flow to predict its ultimate route and length. However, he only had one way to see the lava: with a helicopter. “I remem...