IoT Techniques and Elements for Drone Package Delivery Networks
5.4.1 GROUND SUPPORT PROCESSORS
The next layer in the control hierarchy are the various processors found in the ground support equipment . They run the robotic drone and cargo management systems of drone docks , smart mailboxes and automated warehouses . They also optimize and coordinate the local functions of the drone fleet ( managing charging profiles , for example ), and maintain adequate security of the drones and ground resources . Specialized ground support systems like sensor arrays or screening perches will have sophisticated processing resources associated with them capable of running complex algorithms , including AI inference .
5.4.2 EDGE COMPUTING
Next in the hierarchy are one or more layers of edge computers . Their function is to coordinate all the critical functions across the network of multiple drones and ground support elements . They typically are assigned the tasks that can ’ t be accomplished in the cloud due to constraints on low latency , network bandwidth , security , privacy , reliability or data gravity ( the need to store and process data physically near where it is generated or consumed ).
Edge gateways are one example of edge computers , typically with modest compute capacity optimized for protocol translation or the interconnection of disparate network types . One very promising type of edge computer associated with cellular base stations is called Multi-Access Edge Computing , based on the ETSI MEC standard [ 35 ].
The MEC nodes are extensions of the cloud , and are located at or near cellular base stations , and have computational resources valuable for functions like drone fleet coordination , emergency response , or end-to-end security monitoring . Finally , some Content Delivery Networks ( CDNs ) are building out edge computing resources to supplement their usual web caching functions . They are logically a somewhat more widely distributed cloud and are potentially valuable for coordinating drone operations on a city-wide level .
5.4.3 CLOUD COMPUTING
The top of the system control hierarchy is cloud computing , where much of the service logic , AI , monitoring , ordering , billing , and digital twin simulation is located for the entire network . Cloud computing could be public ( i . e ., Amazon , Microsoft , Google ), private , or hybrid .
The cloud cooperates with the various layers of edge , endpoint and drone-based resources to optimize on which level of the compute hierarchy all parts of the algorithms and data structures are optimally located . And , as delivery service mixes change , or if various faults , overloads or cybersecurity attacks are observed , the compute hierarchy can dynamically move data and algorithms between levels of the hierarchy in an attempt to continue nonstop safe operation of the network .
44 August 2023