Millimeter Wave Remote UAV Control and Communications for Public Safety Scenarios

William Xia, Michele Polese, Marco Mezzavilla, Giuseppe Loianno, Sundeep Rangan, Michele Zorzi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Communication and video capture from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer significant potential for assisting first responders in remote public safety settings. In such uses, millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless links can provide high throughput and low latency connectivity between the UAV and a remote command center. However, maintaining reliable aerial communication in the mmWave bands is challenging due to the need to support high speed beam tracking and overcome blockage. This paper provides a simulation study aimed at assessing the feasibility of public safety UAV connectivity through a 5G link at 28 GHz. Real flight motion traces are captured during maneuvers similar to those expected in public safety settings. The motions traces are then incorporated into a detailed mmWave network simulator that models the channel, blockage, beamforming and full 3GPP protocol stack. We show that 5G mmWave communications can deliver throughput up to 1 Gbps with consistent sub ms latency when the base station is located near the mission area, enabling remote offloading of the UAV control and perception algorithms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2019 16th Annual IEEE International Conference on Sensing, Communication, and Networking, SECON 2019
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
ISBN (Electronic)9781728112077
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2019
Event16th Annual IEEE International Conference on Sensing, Communication, and Networking, SECON 2019 - Boston, United States
Duration: Jun 10 2019Jun 13 2019

Publication series

NameAnnual IEEE Communications Society Conference on Sensor, Mesh and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks workshops
Volume2019-June
ISSN (Print)2155-5486
ISSN (Electronic)2155-5494

Conference

Conference16th Annual IEEE International Conference on Sensing, Communication, and Networking, SECON 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period6/10/196/13/19

Keywords

  • UAV
  • mmWave
  • performance evaluation
  • remote control

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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