Bistatic Micro-Doppler Analysis of a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Drone in ICAS Framework

TL;DR

This paper investigates the micro-Doppler signatures of VTOL drones within an ICAS framework, demonstrating how these signatures can distinguish different flight modes using joint communication and sensing signals.

Contribution

It presents the first measurement and analysis of VTOL drone micro-Doppler signatures in an ICAS context, enabling mode classification with common communication signals.

Findings

Micro-Doppler signatures vary with flight modes

Signatures can be used for precise mode classification

Bistatic measurement with OFDM signals is effective

Abstract

Integrated Communication and Sensing (ICAS) is a key technology that enables sensing functionalities within the next-generation mobile communication (6G). Joint design and optimization of both functionalities could allow coexistence, therefore it advances toward joint signal processing and using the same hardware platform and common spectrum. Contributing to ICAS sensing, this paper presents the measurement and analysis of the micro-Doppler signature of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) drones. Measurement is performed with an OFDM-like communication signal and bistatic constellation, which is a typical case in ICAS scenarios. This work shows that micro-Doppler signatures can be used to precisely distinguish flight modes, such as take-off, landing, hovering, transition, and cruising.