Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Communication

Framework for co-simulation of UAV flight dynamics and UAV-BS network communications and network performance analysis.

  • The MATLAB UAV toolbox models the UAV flight dynamics.
  • For each UE in NetSim, MATLAB creates a UAV with the same UE (UAV) ID.
  • MATLAB calculates the flight path and passes this as a mobility file (x, y, z vs. time) to NetSim.
  • NetSim moves the UE as the mobility file specifies.
  • The pathloss model in NetSim follows TR 36.777 (Aerial Vehicles).

UAV Takes off and flies away

UAV Takes off and flies away
  • UAV take off: Z axis varies from 0m to 750m
  • Saturation (full buffer) traffic
  • Simulation Time: 100s
  • The plot shows the application throughput over the simulation time.

UAV flies in a holding pattern over the gNB

UAV flies in a holding pattern over the gNB
  • UAV takes off and flies in a holding pattern around the gNB
  • Saturation (full buffer) traffic
  • Simulation Time: 100s
  • The plot shows the application throughput over the simulation time.

Performance Analysis

NetSim Throughput Plot

NetSim Through Plot

Case 1: Discussion

  • The UAV is closest to the gNB at takeoff. The throughput is ~8 Mbps.
  • As the UAV climbs and flies away, the throughput decreases to ~4 Mbps at about 10 s.
  • The UAV loses the connection with the gNodeB at ~45 s.

NetSim Throughput Plot

NetSim Through Plot

Case 2: Discussion

  • At take-off (nearest to the gNB), the UAV gets a throughput of ~15 Mbps.
  • The throughput drops as the UAV flies away from the gNB.
  • The throughput then varies periodically. It is highest at the two points where the flight path brings the UAV close to the gNB.

Reference:

Check out detailed documentation for the code and an explanation of the scenario.