Channel Modeling and Characteristics Analysis under Different 3D Dynamic Trajectories for UAV-Assisted Emergency Communications

Abstract

This study involved channel modeling and characteristics analysis of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to different operating trajectories. Based on the idea of standardized channel modeling, air-to-ground (AG) channel modeling of a UAV was carried out, taking into consideration that both the receiver (Rx) and the transmitter (Tx) ran along different types of trajectories. In addition, based on Markov chains and a smooth-turn (ST) mobility model, the influences of different operation trajectories on typical channel characteristics—including time-variant power delay profile (PDP), stationary interval, temporal autocorrelation function (ACF), root mean square (RMS) delay spread (DS), and spatial cross-correlation function (CCF)—were studied. The multi-mobility multi-trajectory UAV channel model matched well with actual operation scenarios, and the characteristics of the UAV AG channel could be analyzed more accurately, thus providing a reference for future system design and sensor network deployment of sixth-generation (6G) UAV-assisted emergency communications.