Bridging FANETs and MANETs for synchronous data collection in precision agriculture activities using AirPro-FL: An energy aware fuzzy logic routing protocol

The use of Flying Ad-hoc Networks (FANETs) in precision agriculture requires the development of advanced routing protocols to manage UAV-specific challenges effectively. This paper presents AirPro-FL, a proactive routing protocol that uses fuzzy logic to optimize UAV performance in precision agriculture tasks. Unlike conventional FANET research, which often relies on stochastic mobility models that do not accurately reflect real-world agricultural missions, AirPro-FL is designed to address these gaps by enhancing UAV cooperation in scanning operations such as crop scouting, crop surveying and mapping, spraying applications, and geofencing. Traditionally, these agricultural activities rely on a single UAV, often resulting in inefficiencies. The UAV’s limited real-time data transmission capabilities, vulnerability to operational failures, and potential mission execution delays contribute to reduced overall effectiveness. The proposed system involving multiple UAVs significantly speeds up mission completion and enables real-time data transfer through the cooperation between FANETs and Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs). This innovation empowers agricultural stakeholders to make faster and more reliable decisions based on accurate data collection. Simulation results indicate that AirPro-FL consistently achieves the highest Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) across all scenarios, halves the average end-to-end delay compared to the second-best protocol, and exhibits superior energy efficiency. The protocol’s success in optimizing data collection during scanning operations underscores its broader applicability beyond agriculture, extending to other fields such as environmental monitoring, disaster management, and surveillance, where similar mobility patterns are employed.