UAV network design

An apparatus for wireless networking and communications, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
• determine a location of a first wireless network device based at least in part on topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle;
• determine a location of a second wireless network device based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle;
• identify a location and one or more characteristics of a signal inhibitor based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle;
• determine a sight path between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the location of the first wireless network device, the location of the second wireless network device, and the location and the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor;
• and
• select a link direction for a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the sight path.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to:

• determine a location of a first wireless network device based at least in part on topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle;
• determine a location of a second wireless network device based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle;
• identify a location and one or more characteristics of a signal inhibitor based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle;
• determine a sight path between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the location of the first wireless network device, the location of the second wireless network device, and the location and the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor;
• and
• select a link direction for a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the sight path.