2021/07/12 by Martin Andreoni Lopez, Michael Baddeley, Lopez, Martin Andreoni +7 · 2 citations
Engineering · Computer Science · #UAV Applications and Optimization #Mobile Ad Hoc Networks #Opportunistic and Delay-Tolerant Networks
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2108.13154
UAVs are increasingly appearing in swarms or formations to leverage\ncooperative behavior, forming flying ad hoc networks. These UAV-enabled\nnetworks can meet several complex mission requirements and are seen as a\npotential enabler for many of the emerging use-cases in future communication\nnetworks. Such networks, however, are characterized by a highly dynamic and\nmobile environment with no guarantee of a central network infrastructure which\ncan cause both connectivity and security issues. While wireless mesh networks\nare envisioned as a solution for such scenarios, these networks come with their\nown challenges and security vulnerabilities. In this paper, we analyze the key\nsecurity and resilience issues resulting from the application of wireless mesh\nnetworks within UAV swarms. Specifically, we highlight the main challenges of\napplying current mesh technologies within the domain of UAV swarms and expose\nexisting vulnerabilities across the communication stack. Based on this\nanalysis, we present a security-focused architecture for UAV mesh\ncommunications. Finally, from the identification of these vulnerabilities, we\ndiscuss research opportunities posed by the unique challenges of UAV swarm\nconnectivity.\n