UAV Rout Optimization for Maximum Coverage in Images

Nowadays UAVs have gained an important role in the military especially in the passive defence in different countries of the world. These tools are based on the ability to carry out day-and-night operations for near or remote areas, against static or dynamic targets, in all weather conditions, and the possibility of flights in guided or automatic manners which have gained military and political achievements in recent years conflicts. The main objective of this study is providing the optimization path for UAVs in a way that maximizes the coverage of the area during flights. One of the analyses in Geo-Spatial Information Systems is the line-of-sight analysis in the raster data model. In this research, an algorithm is developed to obtain a visibility map of the UAVs’ sensors by using the Digital Elevation Model and mathematical models. Then, the obtained results are displayed graphically on the Digital Elevation Model. This algorithm is implemented for all pixels in the DEM and the pixels with the most visibility areas are pointed in the map. At the end, a path for these stored pixels is fitted and, after performing the necessary procedures, the final flight path of the UAV will be specified. The main characteristic of the final route is that a UAV with the shortest flight can provide the most coverage for information from the enemy. Finally, in the MATLAB software, by comparing the first route and the final map, there is about 83% overlap.