UAVs in WSNs for agricultural applications: an analysis of the two-ray radio propagation model

In this work, we discuss the radio propagation model of the UAVs when they act as mobile nodes belonging to a ground wireless sensor network. A typical application scenario is the agricultural field, where ground sensor nodes communicate with a flying node (the UAV). Currently, UAVs are attracting much attention both in the market and in the research field, thus more accurate radio propagation models are needed to properly estimate the effectiveness and the feasibility of the use of UAVs in several contexts. The main contribution of this work is in highlighting that the classical two-ray path loss model may be not enough accurate to take into account all the different factors that must be considered when using an UAV to communicate with and to control a ground Wireless Sensor Network.