Research

My research aims to make next-generation mobile networks (5G/6G, IoT) more resilient, more energy-efficient and able to adapt in real time to dynamic environments, by treating autonomous aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a full component of the network. It combines network theory, optimization and artificial intelligence, with applications in disaster management, urban monitoring, large-scale data collection and the Internet of Things.

1. UAV assistance to terrestrial networks

UAVs organized in an aerial ad hoc network cooperate with ground entities to extend terrestrial coverage dynamically, in particular in disaster scenarios where fixed infrastructure fails. This line covers UAV-assisted vehicular networks, aerial peer-to-peer backbones for vehicular data sharing, UAV caching, and UAV-mounted reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) combined with edge computing on high-altitude platforms (HAP).

2. Wireless power transfer and energy management

To guarantee uninterrupted missions, UAVs are powered remotely through radio-frequency signals or recharged by ground robots. We optimize the placement and trajectories of fixed and mobile charging stations, including cooperative UAV-UGV systems, so that batteries are never exhausted while the largest number of UAVs is served.

3. Energy efficiency in mobile networks

In 5G/6G and IoT, the intelligent election of relay nodes reduces the average consumption of all nodes while improving quality of service. We design efficient relay election mechanisms and study the energy-efficient placement of network resources.

4. Artificial intelligence and machine learning

A cross-cutting axis: deep reinforcement learning applied to trajectory optimization, resource allocation and data collection, notably the minimization of the Age of Information (AoI), in autonomous networks.

Current directions

• Coordination and communication of UAV swarms through digital twins and RIS.

• Hybrid beamforming for RIS-assisted cell-free ISAC MIMO systems with digital twins.

• Resilient solutions for decarbonized and connected logistics (digital twins, 5G/D2D mesh).

• Intelligent and adaptive 5G networks for emergency management with drones.

• MOSAÏC: a demonstrator of resilient object-to-object communication over a multi-radio mesh network for smart cities and critical environments.

Applications

Disaster management · Urban surveillance · Large-scale data collection · Smart cities · Connected logistics · Energy-efficient IoT