11/12/2021
By Sokny Long

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, invites you to attend a Master's thesis defense by Naye Yoni on “Analysis of UAS communication links interference indoors and in subterranean environments.”

Master's Candidate: Naye Yoni
Date: Monday, Nov. 22, 2021
Time: 11 a.m. to noon EST
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact jay_weitzen@uml.edu (Advisor) at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.

Committee Chair (Advisor):
Jay Weitzen, Ph.D., Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Committee Members:
• Paul Robinette, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Thanuka Wickramarathne, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Adam Norton, Assistant Director, New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract:
Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) have been employed in many civilian and military applications over the years. After multiple successful missions in outdoor environments, the US Army is now interested in the deployment of sUAS platforms indoors, in subterranean environments, and in other confined areas for monitoring, detecting, and rescuing tasks. Contrarily to outdoor spaces with primarily line-of-sight (LOS) communication links, indoor environments have a mix of line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) and operate in a Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environment. The indoor channel introduces many challenges to the communication channels between the Ground Control Station (GCS) and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Very few studies have been done on this topic of using outdoor UAVs indoors; however, the quality of the channels is an important factor in the success of these indoor missions. This thesis analyzes through diverse testing procedures the interferences of the communication links in subterranean and indoor spaces. It also explores the impact of NLOS operations on wireless transmission, and based on the results, it evaluates the capability of these intelligent systems to complete missions in closed areas.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend the online defense via remote access.