Lightweight UAV-based measurement system for air-to-ground channels at 28 GHz

Semkin, Vasilii; Kang, Seongjoon; Haarla, Jaakko; Xia, William; Huhtinen, Ismo; Geraci, Giovanni; Lozano Solsona, Angel; Loianno, Giuseppe; Mezzavilla, Marco; Rangan, Sundeep

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PIMRC50174.2021.9569561

Lightweight UAV-based measurement system for air-to-ground channels at 28 GHz

Citation

Semkin V, Kang S, Haarla J, Xia W, Huhtinen I, Geraci G, Lozano A, Loianno G, Mezzavilla M, Rangan S. Lightweight UAV-based measurement system for air-to-ground channels at 28 GHz. In: 2021 IEEE 32nd Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC); 2021 Sep 13-16; Helsinki, Finland. [Piscataway]: IEEE; 2021. p. 848-53. DOI: 10.1109/PIMRC50174.2021.9569561

Abstract

Wireless communication at millimeter wave frequencies is an attractive option for high-bit-rate connectivity to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, conducting the channel measurements necessary to assess the communication performance at these frequencies has been challenging due to the severe payload and power restrictions in commercial UAVs. This work presents a novel lightweight (approximately 1.3kg) channel measurement system at 28GHz installed on a commercially available UAV. A ground transmitter equipped with a horn antenna conveys sounding signals to a UAV equipped with a lightweight spectrum analyzer. We demonstrate that the measurements can be highly influenced by the onboard antenna pattern as shaped by the UAV’s frame. A calibration procedure is presented to correct for the resulting angular variations in antenna gain. The measurement setup is then validated on real flights from an airstrip at distances in excess of 300m.

Description

Comunicació presentada a 2021 IEEE 32nd Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC), celebrat del 13 al 16 de setembre de 2021 de manera virtual.