[en] Uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted multi-access edge computing (MEC) is increasingly being adopted to meet the rising demand for low-latency and efficient data processing, particularly in environments with limited ground infrastructure. However, optimizing task offloading and resource allocation in such networks remains a significant challenge as the number of UAVs and connected devices grows. To address this, we propose a Trajectory-Based Task Offloading in UAV-Assisted MEC (TB-TUAV) scheme, which leverages UAV mobility to enhance resource utilization and reduce latency. Unlike existing methods, TB-TUAV integrates a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework based on a Markov Decision Process (MDP) to dynamically optimize task offloading and resource allocation in multi-UAV networks. Our approach effectively balances exploration and exploitation, improving learning stability and ensuring fast convergence. By incorporating trajectory optimization through random path exploration, the proposed scheme efficiently distributes computational tasks while mitigating processing delays. Simulation results demonstrate that TB-TUAV significantly improves resource efficiency and reduces latency compared to state-of-the-art baseline methods. This research presents a scalable and adaptive solution for real-time MEC applications in dynamic multi-UAV environments, ensuring improved performance even under resource constraints.
Disciplines :
Electrical & electronics engineering
Author, co-author :
Ahmed, Manzoor ; Institute for AI Industrial Technology Research, School of Computer and Information Science, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
Fatima, Noor; National Textile University, Department of Computer Science, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Raza, Salman ; National Textile University, Department of Computer Science, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Ali, Hamid; National Textile University, Department of Computer Science, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Qayum, Abdul ; National Textile University, Department of Computer Science, Faisalabad, Pakistan
KHAN, Wali Ullah ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > SigCom
Sheraz, Muhammad ; Multimedia University, Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Engineering, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Chee Chuah, Teong ; Multimedia University, Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Engineering, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Optimizing Resource Allocation and Task Offloading in Multi-UAV MEC Networks
Publication date :
2025
Journal title :
IEEE Access
ISSN :
2169-3536
Publisher :
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Multimedia University through the Research Fellow Telekom Research and Development Sdn Bhd
Funding text :
This work was supported in part by Multimedia University through the Research Fellow under Grant MMUI/240021, and in part by Telekom Research and Development Sdn Bhd under Grant RDTC/241149.
S. Raza, S. Wang, M. Ahmed, and M. R. Anwar, "A survey on vehicular edge computing: Architecture, applications, technical issues, and future directions, " Wireless Commun. Mobile Comput., vol. 2019, pp. 1-19, Feb. 2019.
Y. Li, Z. Chen, and M. Tao, "Coded caching with device computing in mobile edge computing systems, " IEEE Trans.Wireless Commun., vol. 20, no. 12, pp. 7932-7946, Dec. 2021.
M. N. Tariq, J. Wang, S. Raza, M. Siraj, M. Altamimi, and S. Memon, "Toward optimal resource allocation: A multi-agent DRL based task offloading approach in multi-UAV-assisted MEC networks, " IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 81428-81440, 2024.
S. Raza, M. Ahmed, H. Ahmad, M. A. Mirza, M. A. Habib, and S. Wang, "Task offloading in mmWave based 5G vehicular cloud computing, " J. Ambient Intell. Humanized Comput., vol. 14, no. 9, pp. 12595-12607, Sep. 2023.
M. Ahmed, S. Raza, H. Ahmad, W. U. Khan, F. Xu, and K. Rabie, "Deep reinforcement learning approach for multi-hop task offloading in vehicular edge computing, " Eng. Sci. Technol., Int. J., vol. 59, Nov. 2024, Art. no. 101854.
D. Wang, Y. Jia, L. Liang, K. Ota, and M. Dong, "Resource allocation in blockchain integration of UAV-enabled MEC networks: A Stackelberg differential game approach, " IEEE Trans. Services Comput., vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 4197-4210, Nov. 2024.
B. Li, R. Yang, L. Liu, J. Wang, N. Zhang, and M. Dong, "Robust computation offloading and trajectory optimization for multi-UAV-assisted MEC: A multiagent DRL approach, " IEEE Internet Things J., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 4775-4786, Feb. 2024.
J. Cui, Y. Wei, J. Wang, L. Shang, and P. Lin, "Joint trajectory design and resource allocation for UAV-assisted mobile edge computing in power convergence network, " EURASIP J. Wireless Commun. Netw., vol. 2025, no. 1, p. 4, Jan. 2025.
Y. Mao, C. You, J. Zhang, K. Huang, and K. B. Letaief, "A survey on mobile edge computing: The communication perspective, " IEEE Commun. Surveys Tuts., vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 2322-2358, 4th Quart., 2017.
X. Chen, H. Zhang, C. Wu, S. Mao, Y. Ji, and M. Bennis, "Performance optimization in mobile-edge computing via deep reinforcement learning, " in Proc. IEEE 88th Veh. Technol. Conf. (VTC-Fall), Aug. 2018, pp. 1-6.
J. Zheng, Y. Pan, S. Jiang, Z. Chen, and F. Yan, "A federated learning and deep Q-network-based cooperative resource allocation algorithm for multilevel services in mobile-edge computing networks, " IEEE Trans. Cognit. Commun. Netw., vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 1734-1745, Dec. 2023.
R. Zhu, M. Huang, K. Sun, Y. Hou, Y. Wan, and H. He, "Deep reinforcement learning based task offloading for UAV-assisted edge computing, " in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Unmanned Syst. (ICUS), Oct. 2023, pp. 1104-1111.
D. Van Huynh, Y. Li, A. Masaracchia, T. Hoang, and T. Q. Duong, "Optimal resource allocation for 6G UAV-enabled mobile edge computing with mission-critical applications, " in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Metaverse Comput., Netw. Appl. (MetaCom), Jun. 2023, pp. 720-723.
P. Wen, X. Hu, and K.-K. Wong, "UAV-assisted edge computing with 3D trajectory design and resource allocation, " in Proc. IEEE 98th Veh. Technol. Conf. (VTC-Fall), Oct. 2023, pp. 1-6.
M. Yan, L. Zhang, W. Jiang, C. A. Chan, A. F. Gygax, and A. Nirmalathas, "Energy consumption modeling and optimization of UAV-assisted MEC networks using deep reinforcement learning, " IEEE Sensors J., vol. 24, no. 8, pp. 13629-13639, Apr. 2024.
K. Zheng, G. Jiang, X. Liu, K. Chi, X. Yao, and J. Liu, "DRLbased offloading for computation delay minimization in wireless-powered multi-access edge computing, " IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 1755-1770, Mar. 2023.
X. Liu, A. Chen, K. Zheng, K. Chi, B. Yang, and T. Taleb, "Distributed computation offloading for energy provision minimization in WP-MEC networks with multiple HAPs, " IEEE Trans. Mobile Comput., vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 2673-2689, Apr. 2025.
X. Liu, H. Liu, K. Zheng, J. Liu, T. Taleb, and N. Shiratori, "AoIminimal clustering, transmission and trajectory co-design forUAV-assisted WPCNs, " IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 74, no. 1, pp. 1035-1051, Jan. 2025.
W. Lee and T. Kim, "Multiagent reinforcement learning in controlling offloading ratio and trajectory for multi-UAV mobile-edge computing, " IEEE Internet Things J., vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 3417-3429, Jan. 2024.
X. Zheng, Y. Wu, L. Zhang, M. Tang, and F. Zhu, "Priority-aware path planning and user scheduling for UAV-mounted MEC networks: A deep reinforcement learning approach, " Phys. Commun., vol. 62, Feb. 2024, Art. no. 102234.
D. Xu and D. Xu, "Cooperative task offloading and resource allocation for UAV-enabled mobile edge computing systems, " Comput. Netw., vol. 223, Mar. 2023, Art. no. 109574.
H. Guo, Y. Wang, J. Liu, and C. Liu, "Multi-UAV cooperative task offloading and resource allocation in 5G advanced and beyond, " IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 347-359, Jan. 2024.
X. Chen, L. Jiao, W. Li, and X. Fu, "Efficient multi-user computation offloading for mobile-edge cloud computing, " IEEE/ACM Trans. Netw., vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 2795-2808, Oct. 2016.
Y. Dai, D. Xu, S. Maharjan, G. Qiao, and Y. Zhang, "Artificial intelligence empowered edge computing and caching for Internet of Vehicles, " IEEE Wireless Commun., vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 12-18, Jun. 2019.
W. Fang, S. Ding, Y. Li, W. Zhou, and N. Xiong, "OKRA: Optimal task and resource allocation for energy minimization in mobile edge computing systems, " Wireless Netw., vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 2851-2867, Jul. 2019.
J. Xiong, H. Guo, and J. Liu, "Task offloading in UAV-aided edge computing: Bit allocation and trajectory optimization, " IEEE Commun. Lett., vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 538-541, Mar. 2019.
X. Diao, J. Zheng, Y. Cai, Y. Wu, and A. Anpalagan, "Fair data allocation and trajectory optimization for UAV-assisted mobile edge computing, " IEEE Commun. Lett., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 2357-2361, Dec. 2019.
J. Lyu, Y. Zeng, R. Zhang, and T. J. Lim, "Placement optimization of UAV-mounted mobile base stations, " IEEE Commun. Lett., vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 604-607, Mar. 2017.
D.-H. Tran, S. Chatzinotas, and B. Ottersten, "Satellite-and cacheassisted UAV: A joint cache placement, resource allocation, and trajectory optimization for 6G aerial networks, " IEEE Open J. Veh. Technol., vol. 3, pp. 40-54, 2022.
S. Raza, W. Liu, M. Ahmed, M. R. Anwar, M. A. Mirza, Q. Sun, and S. Wang, "An efficient task offloading scheme in vehicular edge computing, " J. Cloud Comput., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-14, Dec. 2020.
Q. Hu, Y. Cai, G. Yu, Z. Qin, M. Zhao, and G. Y. Li, "Joint offloading and trajectory design for UAV-enabled mobile edge computing systems, " IEEE Internet Things J., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 1879-1892, Apr. 2019.
D. Silver, G. Lever, N. Heess, T. Degris, D. Wierstra, and M. Riedmiller, "Deterministic policy gradient algorithms, " in Proc. 31st Int. Conf. Mach. Learn., 2014, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 387-395.
S. Jeong, O. Simeone, and J. Kang, "Mobile edge computing via a UAV-mounted cloudlet: Optimization of bit allocation and path planning, " IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 2049-2063, Mar. 2018.
M. Coldrey, J.-E. Berg, L. Manholm, C. Larsson, and J. Hansryd, "Nonline-of-sight small cell backhauling using microwave technology, " IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 51, no. 9, pp. 78-84, Sep. 2013.
N. Cheng, F. Lyu, W. Quan, C. Zhou, H. He, W. Shi, and X. Shen, "Space/aerial-assisted computing offloading for IoT applications: A learning-based approach, " IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 37, no. 5, pp. 1117-1129, May 2019.
J. Li, Q. Liu, P. Wu, F. Shu, and S. Jin, "Task offloading for UAVbased mobile edge computing via deep reinforcement learning, " in Proc. IEEE/CIC Int. Conf. Commun. China (ICCC), Aug. 2018, pp. 798-802.
Y. Wang, W. Fang, Y. Ding, and N. Xiong, "Computation offloading optimization for UAV-assisted mobile edge computing: A deep deterministic policy gradient approach, " Wireless Netw., vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 2991-3006, May 2021.