Data Collection in Areas without Infrastructure Using LoRa Technology and a Quadrotor

Josué I. Rojo-García, Sergio A. Vera-Chavarría, Yair Lozano-Hernández (), Victor G. Sánchez-Meza, Jaime González-Sierra and Luz N. Oliva-Moreno
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Josué I. Rojo-García: División de Diseño Aeronáutico, Universidad Aeronáutica en Querétaro, Querétaro 76278, Mexico
Sergio A. Vera-Chavarría: División de Diseño Aeronáutico, Universidad Aeronáutica en Querétaro, Querétaro 76278, Mexico
Yair Lozano-Hernández: Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Hidalgo, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Actopan 42162, Mexico
Victor G. Sánchez-Meza: Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria en Ingeniería y Tecnologías Avanzadas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 07340, Mexico
Jaime González-Sierra: Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Hidalgo, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Actopan 42162, Mexico
Luz N. Oliva-Moreno: Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Hidalgo, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Actopan 42162, Mexico

Future Internet, 2024, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: The use of sensor networks in monitoring applications has increased; they are useful in security, environmental, and health applications, among others. These networks usually transmit data through short-range stations, which makes them attractive for incorporation into applications and devices for use in places without access to satellite or mobile signals, for example, forests, seas, and jungles. To this end, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have attractive characteristics for data collection and transmission in remote areas without infrastructure. Integrating systems based on wireless sensors and UAVs seems to be an economical and easy-to-use solution. However, the main difficulty is the amount of data sent, which affects the communication time and even the flight status of the UAV. Additionally, factors such as the UAV model and the hardware used for these tasks must be considered. Based on those difficulties mentioned, this paper proposes a system based on long-range (LoRa) technology. We present a low-cost wireless sensor network that is flexible, easy to deploy, and capable of collecting/sending data via LoRa transceivers. The readings obtained are packaged and sent to a UAV. The UAV performs predefined flights at a constant height of 30 m and with a direct line-of-sight (LoS) to the stations, during which it collects information from two data stations, concluding that it is possible to carry out a correct data transmission with a flight speed of 10 m/s and a transmission radius of 690 m for a group of three packages confirmed by 20 messages each. Thus, it is possible to collect data from routes of up to 8 km for each battery charge, considering the return of the UAV.

Keywords: data collection; LoRa; sensors; UAV; wireless communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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