The Rise of UAV Fleet Technologies for Emergency Wireless Communications in Harsh Environments

TL;DR

This paper proposes a multi-tier heterogeneous UAV network architecture to enhance emergency wireless communications in harsh environments, addressing key challenges and presenting innovative solutions for improved coverage, capacity, and energy efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces the MuHun UAV network model and discusses novel solutions like hybrid-channel resource allocation and reconfigurable surfaces for robust emergency communications.

Findings

Enhanced coverage and capacity in UAV-based EcoNet

Proposed solutions improve energy efficiency and reliability

Addressed complex channel modeling and energy constraints

Abstract

For unforeseen emergencies, such as natural disasters and pandemic events, it is highly demanded to cope with the explosive growth of mobile data traffic in extremely critical environments. An Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet is an effective way to facilitate the Emergency wireless COmmunication NETwork (EcoNet). In this article, a MUlti-tier Heterogeneous UAV Network (MuHun), which is with different UAV fleets in different altitudes, is proposed to flexibly serve various emergencies. We refresh the key performance indicators of full coverage, network capacity, low latency, and energy efficiency in harsh environments. Then, we present the special challenges regarding shadowing-dominated complex channel model, energy supply limited short-endurance, various communication mechanisms coexistence, and communication island for underground users in UAV-based EcoNet, followed by the MuHun-based EcoNet architecture and its advantages. Furthermore, some potential solutions such as the new hybrid-channel adapted resource allocation, reconfigurable intelligent surface assisted UAV communications, competitive heterogenous-networks, and magnetic induction based air-to-ground/underground communications are discussed to effectively achieve full coverage, high capacity, high energy efficiency, and diverse qualities of services for EcoNets in harsh environments.