Swarm of UAVs for Network Management in 6G: A Technical Review

TL;DR

This paper reviews the integration of UAV swarms with 6G networks, focusing on security, intelligence, and energy efficiency, highlighting challenges and future research directions in this emerging field.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of UAV swarm management in 6G, emphasizing the integration of AI/ML and blockchain, and discusses key challenges and future research avenues.

Findings

Blockchain and AI/ML enhance UAV network security and intelligence.

Identified energy-efficiency challenges in UAV swarms within 6G.

Outlined future research directions for UAVs in 6G networks.

Abstract

Fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks have led to the implementation of beyond 5G (B5G) networks, which are capable of incorporating autonomous services to swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They provide capacity expansion strategies to address massive connectivity issues and guarantee ultra-high throughput and low latency, especially in extreme or emergency situations where network density, bandwidth, and traffic patterns fluctuate. On the one hand, 6G technology integrates AI/ML, IoT, and blockchain to establish ultra-reliable, intelligent, secure, and ubiquitous UAV networks. 6G networks, on the other hand, rely on new enabling technologies such as air interface and transmission technologies, as well as a unique network design, posing new challenges for the swarm of UAVs. Keeping these challenges in mind, this article focuses on the security and privacy, intelligence, and energy-efficiency issues faced by swarms of UAVs operating in 6G mobile networks. In this state-of-the-art review, we integrated blockchain and AI/ML with UAV networks utilizing the 6G ecosystem. The key findings are then presented, and potential research challenges are identified. We conclude the review by shedding light on future research in this emerging field of research.