Dynamic UAV Inspection Boosted by Vehicle Collaboration Under Harsh Conditions in the IoT Realm

With the widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), UAV–vehicle collaborative inspection systems are crucial for large-scale, IoT-enabled monitoring. Empowered by the IoT, these systems optimize resource allocation and boost the efficiency of IoT-based applications. Nevertheless, variable vehicle and UAV speeds due to wind and precipitation complicate path planning and task scheduling in the IoT-integrated setup. To solve this, this study offers an adaptive solution for dynamic, complex-weather scenarios within the IoT framework. A dynamic task-processing model was developed first, using real-time IoT sensor data for better decisions. Then, the KGTSA optimization algorithm was designed. It combines K-means clustering, HGA, and TS, considering UAV and vehicle speed variations in complex weather and making full use of IoT-device data. K-means generates an initial solution, HGA refines it, and TS fine-tunes UAV routes and task assignments. The simulation results show that KGTSA significantly cuts data collection time while maintaining flexibility. It efficiently manages speed and path uncertainties in complex weather, optimizing task efficiency without weather forecasts. Compared to traditional algorithms, KGTSA shortens data collection time and adapts better to dynamic IoT environments for real-world efficiency.