Open-Source Software Radio Platform for Research on Cellular Networked UAVs -- It Works!

TL;DR

This paper presents an open-source, hardware and software testbed for UAV cellular communication research, demonstrating its feasibility for innovation using commercial off-the-shelf components.

Contribution

It provides a detailed design of a broadband wireless testbed for UAV cellular research utilizing open-source software and off-the-shelf hardware.

Findings

Testbed is feasible with commercial hardware.

Open-source software supports UAV cellular research.

Field trials confirm reliable UAV communication performance.

Abstract

Cellular network-connected unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) experience different radio propagation conditions than radio nodes on the ground. Therefore, it has become critical to investigate the performance of aerial radios, both theoretically and through field trials. In this paper, we consider low-altitude aerial nodes that are served by an experimental cellular network. We provide a detailed description of the hardware and software components needed for establishing a broadband wireless testbed for UAV communications research using software radios. Results show that a testbed for innovation in UAV communications and networking is feasible with commercial off-the-shelf hardware, open-source software, and low-power signaling.