Uncrewed Vehicles in 6G Networks: A Unifying Treatment of Problems, Formulations, and Tools

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of uncrewed vehicles in 6G networks, unifying various problems, formulations, and tools to facilitate their integration and address associated challenges.

Contribution

It offers a structured framework unifying diverse problem formulations and mathematical tools for UV-assisted wireless systems in 6G networks.

Findings

Identifies key challenges in UV integration for 6G.

Proposes a unifying problem framework for UV-assisted systems.

Highlights potential applications and benefits of UVs in 6G.

Abstract

Uncrewed Vehicles (UVs) functioning as autonomous agents are anticipated to play a crucial role in the 6th Generation of wireless networks. Their seamless integration, cost-effectiveness, and the additional controllability through motion planning make them an attractive deployment option for a wide range of applications, both as assets in the network (e.g., mobile base stations) and as consumers of network services (e.g., autonomous delivery systems). However, despite their potential, the convergence of UVs and wireless systems brings forth numerous challenges that require attention from both academia and industry. This paper then aims to offer a comprehensive overview encompassing the transformative possibilities as well as the significant challenges associated with UV-assisted next-generation wireless communications. Considering the diverse landscape of possible application scenarios, problem formulations, and mathematical tools related to UV-assisted wireless systems, the underlying core theme of this paper is the unification of the problem space, providing a structured framework to understand the use cases, problem formulations, and necessary mathematical tools. Overall, the paper sets forth a clear understanding of how uncrewed vehicles can be integrated in the 6G ecosystem, paving the way towards harnessing the full potential at this intersection.