Utilizing hybrid MCDM models for analyzing UAV swarm

Abstract Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarm can not only carry out tasks in dangerous or inaccessible areas, but also reduce the cost and simplify the manpower required. Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) is rarely used to explore UAV swarm; therefore, the purpose of this research is to construct a decision model for evaluating and improving criteria of UAV swarm. To probe into the interrelationship and influential weights of criteria, this study utilizes hybrid MCDM models including decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to investigate the interdependent problems among criteria for establishing the influential network relation map (INRM), and DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP) to obtain the influential weights. According to DEMATEL technique, the results indicate that criteria of UAV swarm have self-effect relationships. The dimension of UAV swarm that should be improved first when increasing the performance is entity based on the INRM. In the four criteria for evaluation by DANP, the criterion of vulnerability has the highest influential weight, followed by connectivity, vehicle, and communication. This paper uses hybrid MCDM models and investigates the standpoints of experts to make up the insufficiency in UAV swarm.