Analytical Models for Mobile Sensor (UAV) Coverage of a Region

Abstract : The effective use of mobile sensors (UAVs for example, but not exclusively) to investigate own and opponent force status in geographical regions requires planning to compensate for their limitations. These limitations include finite endurance, and realistic mission unreliability: the failure propensities of platform and sensing packages, and the consequent need for maintenance and logistics support. This paper supplies analytical (mathematical) models (AMM) to assist planners, and the acquirers and operational testers of mobile sensor assets. The results are formulas (that can be quickly evaluated numerically) for the expected time on station (fraction of time a region has sensor presence) of several cooperatively operating systems supported by several maintenance facilities. These results can be used to estimate the number of sensors of a particular type needed to cover a region adequately. Limited evidence indicates usefully satisfactory agreement between analytical model estimates and those from more detailed and elaborate Monte Carlo simulations (MCS).