UAV Command and Control, Navigation and Surveillance: A Review of Potential 5G and Satellite Systems

TL;DR

This review explores how 5G and satellite systems can support UAV command, control, navigation, and surveillance, highlighting new technologies, challenges, and regulatory considerations for integrating UAVs into airspace.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of CNPC links, new communication technologies, and challenges in UAV navigation and surveillance within 5G and satellite systems.

Findings

Identification of key CNPC link requirements for UAV safety

Evaluation of millimeter wave systems for UAV communication

Discussion of regulatory and spectrum challenges for UAV integration

Abstract

Drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are expected to be an important component of 5G/beyond 5G (B5G) communications. This includes their use within cellular architectures (5G UAVs), in which they can facilitate both wireless broadcast and point-to-point transmissions, usually using small UAS (sUAS). Allowing UAS to operate within airspace along with commercial, cargo, and other piloted aircraft will likely require dedicated and protected aviation spectrum at least in the near term, while regulatory authorities adapt to their use. The command and control (C2), or control and non-payload communications (CNPC) link provides safety critical information for the control of the UAV both in terrestrial-based line of sight (LOS) conditions and in satellite communication links for so-called beyond LOS (BLOS) conditions. In this paper, we provide an overview of these CNPC links as they may be used in 5G and satellite systems by describing basic concepts and challenges. We review new entrant technologies that might be used for UAV C2 as well as for payload communication, such as millimeter wave (mmWave) systems, and also review navigation and surveillance challenges. A brief discussion of UAV-to-UAV communication and hardware issues are also provided.