Anicho, Ogbonnaya (Liverpool Hope University), Charlesworth, Philip (Liverpool Hope University), Baicher, Gurvinder (Liverpool Hope University), Nagar, Atulya (Liverpool Hope University), Buckley, Neil (Liverpool Hope University)

Comparative Study for Coordinating Multiple Unmanned HAPS for Communications Area Coverage

Scheduled for presentation during the Regular Session "UAS Applications II" (WeC3), Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 17:00−17:20, Heritage C

2020 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), June 11-14, 2019, Athens, Greece

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on May 1, 2024

Abstract

This work compares the application of Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Swarm Intelligence (SI) based methods for resolving the problem of coordinating multiple High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) for communications area coverage. Swarm coordination techniques are essential for developing autonomous capabilities for multiple HAPS/UAS control and management. This paper examines the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of RL and SI for autonomous swarm coordination. In this work, it was observed that the RL approach showed superior overall peak user coverage with unpredictable coverage dips; while the SI based approach demonstrated lower coverage peaks but better coverage stability and faster convergence rates.