Jean-Aimé Maxa

Emulation-Based Performance Evaluation of Routing Protocols for Uaanets

UAV Ad hoc NETwork (UAANET) is a subset of the well known Mobile Ad-hoc NETworks (MANETs). It consists of forming an ad hoc network with multiple small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the Ground Control Station (GCS). Similar to MANETs, the UAANET communication architecture is infrastructure-less and self-configuring network of several nodes forwarding data packets. However, it also has some specific features that brings challenges on network connectivity. Consequently, an adapted routing protocol is needed to exchange data packets within UAANETs. In this paper, we introduce a new hybrid experimental system that can evaluate different types of adhoc routing protocols under a realistic UAANET scenario. It is based on virtual machines and the Virtual mesh [1] framework to emulate physical aspects.We evaluated AODV, DSR and OLSR efficiency in a realistic scenario with three UAVs scanning an area. Our results show that AODV outperformed OLSR and DSR.

Extended verification of secure UAANET routing protocol

UAV Ad hoc Network (UAANET) is a wireless ad hoc network composed of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Ground Control Station (GCS). It requires an efficient and secure routing protocols to find accurate and secure route between nodes to exchange data traffics. There have been several secure routing proposals to ensure data authentication and integrity services of ad hoc routing protocols. However, most of them are vulnerable against wormhole attacks and therefore cannot be used for UAANET directly without amendment. The wormhole attack involves two attackers who perform a colluding attack. In this paper, we present a new UAANET secure routing protocol called SUAP (Secure Uav Ad hoc routing Protocol). It ensures message authentication and provides detection and prevention of wormhole attacks. SUAP is a reactive protocol using public key cryptography, hash chains and geographical leashes. We have carried out a formal verification analysis of SUAP security properties using the AVISPA tool, an automated model checker for the analysis of security features. We have also validated our security proposal through formal model checking using Simulink and Stateflow tools. Additionally, we use a hybrid experimental system (based on virtual machines and a virtual mesh framework) under a realistic UAANET scenario to evaluate SUAP routing performances and validate its security properties.

Joint Model-Driven design and real experiment-based validation for a secure UAV Ad hoc Network routing protocol

UAV Ad hoc Network (UAANET) is a wireless ad hoc network composed of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Ground Control Station (GCS). Compared to the standard Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs), the UAANET architecture has some specific features that brings exciting challenges to communication architecture design. One of them is the design challenge of a UAANET routing protocols. It must find an accurate and reliable route between nodes in a timely manner to exchange data traffics. It must also be secured to preserve efficiency in the presence of malicious attackers and provides data integrity and authentication. Furthermore, UAANETs must be certified in the near future to act as autonomous systems without a dedicated safety pilot and to be authorized to fly in the national airspace. In such a context, in this paper, we contribute to the certification of the secure UAANET communication system software using a Model-Driven Development (MDD) approach and real experiments based validation. The validation process followed uses sequentially formal verification methods and real-world experimental results. The objective is to evaluate the routing protocol efficiency to a set of unexpected hazardous issues that come with the real environment.

Original Rapid Prototyping Method for Embedded Systems for UAVs

Design tools such as MATLAB/Simulink® or Lustre/SCADE can help us to understand the complexity of a system by offering high levels of abstraction. They also allow formal methods to be used in the embedded software development lifecycle. These tools make it possible to model the environment in which the software is to be implemented. The general concept involves building the critical embedded program directly from models in order to limit design errors and to save time in the development process. While UML is often used for software modeling, MATLAB/Simulink presents a significant advantage, in that it enables a global view of the software system and its environment which contains enough information to validate behavior in relation to a specification. This tool is often used in industry for designing and testing avionic software. Feedback has shown that MATLAB/Simulink is also useful in the certification process.

1 – State of the Art of Model-driven Development (MDD) as Applied to Aeronautical Systems

Faced with an exponential increase in program complexity, operators in the aeronautical sector have established software-based certification procedures based on the use of model-driven methods. These methods guarantee a certain level of operational security, and in some cases make the design process easier.

IEEE 802.11n vs. IEEE 802.15.4: A Study on Communication QoS to Provide Safe FANETs

Flying Ad hoc Network (FANET) is an infrastructure-less multi-hop radio ad hoc network in which Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Ground Control Station (GCS) collaborates to forward data traffic. Compared to the standard Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs), the FANET architecture has some specific features (3D mobility, low UAV density, intermittent network connectivity) that bring challenges to the communication protocol design. Such routing protocol must provide safety by finding an accurate and reliable route between UAVs. This safety can be obtained through the use of agile method during software based routing protocol development (for instance the use of Model Driven Development) by mapping each FANET safety requirement into the routing design process. This process must be completed with a sequential safety validation testing with formal verification tools, standardized simulator (by using real simulation environment) and real-world experiments. In this paper, we considered FANET communication safety by presenting design methodologies and evaluations of FANET routing protocols. We use the LARISSA architecture to guarantee the efficiency and accuracy of the whole system. We also use the model driven development methodology to provide model and code consistency through the use of formal verification tools. To complete the FANET safety validation, OMNeT++ simulations (using real UAVs mobility traces) and real FANET outdoor experiments have been carried out. We confront both results to evaluate routing protocol performances and conclude about its safety consideration.