Recharging wireless sensor networks using drones and wireless power transfer

International audienceIn this paper, we tackle the optimal energy replenishment problem (OERP) using a given number of flying drones, in order to efficiently recharge wireless sensor nodes. We present a linear program that maximizes the amount of harvested energy to the sensors. We show that the model is solved to optimality in a few seconds for sensor networks with up to 50 nodes. The small number of available drones is shown to be optimally deployed at low altitude in order to efficiently recharge the batteries of at least half of the sensor nodes