Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Survey on Civil Applications and Key Research Challenges (1805.00881v1)

Abstract: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is growing rapidly across many civil application domains including real-time monitoring, providing wireless coverage, remote sensing, search and rescue, delivery of goods, security and surveillance, precision agriculture, and civil infrastructure inspection. Smart UAVs are the next big revolution in UAV technology promising to provide new opportunities in different applications, especially in civil infrastructure in terms of reduced risks and lower cost. Civil infrastructure is expected to dominate the more that $45 Billion market value of UAV usage. In this survey, we present UAV civil applications and their challenges. We also discuss current research trends and provide future insights for potential UAV uses. Furthermore, we present the key challenges for UAV civil applications, including: charging challenges, collision avoidance and swarming challenges, and networking and security related challenges. Based on our review of the recent literature, we discuss open research challenges and draw high-level insights on how these challenges might be approached.

• The paper presents a comprehensive review of UAV use in civil sectors, detailing applications in construction, agriculture, and logistics.
• It examines key challenges including limited battery endurance, collision avoidance methods, and complex networking requirements.
• The survey outlines future research directions, emphasizing machine learning integration and enhanced regulatory frameworks for UAV deployment.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Survey on Civil Applications and Key Research Challenges

The paper "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Survey on Civil Applications and Key Research Challenges" offers a comprehensive review of the state of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in various civil domains. As UAV technology progresses, its utility in civil infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, and disaster management becomes increasingly apparent. This survey covers diverse UAV applications, system requirements, and the integral challenges associated with implementing these technologies in everyday life, while also investigating future research directions.

Overview of UAV Applications

The current civil application of UAVs spans a wide array of sectors. In construction and infrastructure inspection, UAVs hold the potential to mitigate risks and reduce costs associated with traditional methods, taking precedence over aerial operations such as close inspections of power lines and bridges. In agriculture, UAVs facilitate precision farming through crop monitoring, irrigation management, and pest detection, augmenting productivity and efficiency. The section on UAV logistics examines the feasibility of using UAVs for the delivery of goods, noting the regulatory and operational challenges involved.

Challenges and Research Directions

A significant portion of the paper is dedicated to address existing challenges confronting UAV deployment:

1. Charging Challenges: UAV endurance remains limited by the energy capacity of contemporary batteries. Battery management, wireless charging stations, solar-powered UAVs, and improved battery swapping systems are among the proposed solutions. Progress in wireless power transfer and efficient path planning also represent critical research opportunities.
2. Collision Avoidance and Swarming Challenges: UAV operations, especially those involving multiple UAVs, must incorporate effective collision avoidance mechanisms. The discussion on geometric, path planning, potential field, and vision-based approaches illustrates available methodologies while also elucidating their limitations in terms of real-world scalability and computational demands.
3. Networking and Communication: The paper scrutinizes the complexities of inter-UAV communication systems, particularly in Flying Ad-Hoc Networks (FANETs). Challenges such as interference management, rapid topology changes, and seamless handovers between UAVs necessitate the development of robust networking protocols. Technologies like SDN and NFV can facilitate more responsive and dynamic UAV network management.
4. Security Concerns: UAV systems are susceptible to various cyber threats, including GPS spoofing and DDoS attacks. The authors emphasize the need for multifaceted security protocols that strengthen both detection and response mechanisms.

Conclusions and Future Work

The exploration of UAV utility in civil applications underscores both current achievements and the hurdles yet to be overcome. The paper suggests that future research should focus on integrating emerging technologies such as machine learning for enhanced data analysis and operational autonomy. Moreover, revisions in regulatory frameworks are crucial to enable broader UAV adoption. Addressing these issues is imperative for deploying UAV technologies worldwide, ultimately fostering a safer, more efficient, and interconnected future.

In summary, while the paper highlights the considerable promise of UAV technology in civil domains, it encourages continued research into the resolution of existing challenges. For UAVs to realize their full potential, interdisciplinary collaboration and advancements in several technological areas are necessary. This survey serves as a foundational resource for understanding the complexities and opportunities present in UAV civil applications.