Towards 6G with Connected Sky: UAVs and Beyond

TL;DR

This paper explores how cellular networks can support UAVs in future 6G networks by addressing key challenges, leveraging advanced technologies, and integrating non-terrestrial networks for seamless connectivity.

Contribution

It provides an overview of barriers, design considerations, and solutions for UAV deployment in 6G, emphasizing cellular support and new enabling technologies.

Findings

Identifies key challenges in UAV cellular connectivity

Discusses advanced features and machine learning for UAV support

Highlights integration of non-terrestrial networks in 6G

Abstract

The large-scale and ever-growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a wide range of applications is foreseen to be a major part of beyond 5G and 6G wireless networks in the next decade. The effective support of such massive deployment of UAVs requires offering reliable, secure, and cost-effective wireless connectivity. In this regard, cellular networks play essential roles in serving UAVs acting as flying user equipments. While the cellular networks provide promising connectivity solutions for UAVs, enabling robust UAV operations faces several challenges. In this paper, an overview of key barriers and design considerations of widespread commercial use of flying UAVs are presented along with their potential solutions. In addition, we discuss how cellular networks can support UAVs by relying on their advanced features, network intelligence, key enabling technologies for beyond 5G and 6G, and exploiting new tools from machine learning. Finally, we shed light on offering wireless services to high altitudes and the integration of non-terrestrial networks with terrestrial networks towards limitless connectivity in 6G.