A Survey of Air-to-Ground Propagation Channel Modeling for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of air-to-ground propagation channel models for UAVs, highlighting measurement campaigns, modeling techniques, limitations, and future research directions for UAV communication systems.

Contribution

It offers a detailed review of existing AG channel models for UAVs, an analysis of their limitations, and identifies key future research challenges in the field.

Findings

Reviewed various AG channel measurement campaigns

Analyzed large and small scale fading models

Identified gaps and future research directions

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly for small UAVs, due to their affordable prices, ease of availability, and ease of operability. Existing and future applications of UAVs include remote surveillance and monitoring, relief operations, package delivery, and communication backhaul infrastructure. Additionally, UAVs are envisioned as an important component of 5G wireless technology and beyond. The unique application scenarios for UAVs necessitate accurate air-to-ground (AG) propagation channel models for designing and evaluating UAV communication links for control/non-payload as well as payload data transmissions. These AG propagation models have not been investigated in detail when compared to terrestrial propagation models. In this paper, a comprehensive survey is provided on available AG channel measurement campaigns, large and small scale fading channel models, their limitations, and future research directions for UAV communication scenarios.