Deep Learning-Based Autonomous Navigation of 5G Drones in Unknown and Dynamic Environments

Abstract

The flexibility and rapid mobility of drones make them ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, such as traffic control and data collection. Therefore, the autonomous navigation of 5G drones in unknown and dynamic environments has become a major research topic. Current methods rely on sensors to perceive the environment to plan the path from the start point to the target and to avoid obstacles; however, their limited field of view prevents them from moving in all directions and detecting and avoiding obstacles. This article proposes the deep learning (DL)-based autonomous navigation of 5G drones. This proposal uses sensors capable of perceiving the entire environment surrounding the drone and fuses sensor data to detect and avoid obstacles, plan a path, and move in all directions. We trained a convolution neural network (CNN) using a novel dataset we created for drone ascent and passing over obstacles, which achieved 99% accuracy. We also trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) to control drones and achieved a 100% accuracy. Experiments in the Gazebo environment demonstrated the efficiency of sensor fusion, and our proposal was the only one that perceived the entire environment, particularly above the drone. Furthermore, it excelled at detecting U-shaped obstacles and enabling drones to emerge from them.