UAV-Enabled Integrated Communication and Navigation: Challenges and Future Directions

UAV-Enabled Integrated Communication and Navigation: Challenges and Future Directions

연구 분야: Safety

학회: International Conference on Information Processing and Network Provisioning

In recent years, the burgeoning of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry has been at the forefront of integration challenges. Two fundamental functions of UAV platforms are communication and perception. Given the benefits of UAVs such as high mobility, ease of deployment, and low cost, they are frequently utilized as supplementary communication platforms in airspace. For instance, in scenarios with a high concentration of communication users, UAVs can be positioned as temporary base stations or relays to bolster wireless communication and enhance user capacity. Simultaneously, integrating synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with UAV can significantly improve the performance of UAV-based remote sensing systems. The high-resolution and wide detection range capabilities of SAR payloads enhance the operational efficiency of UAV systems, making their application more straightforward and cost-effective. The long-range detection and side observation features of SAR are advantageous for UAVs, enabling distant target detection, risk avoidance, and improved survivability. At present, the communication and radar functions of UAVs operate independently. However, the creation of generalized UAV-integrated sensing equipment can significantly streamline hardware and conserve computing resources. Such integration could reduce the load on UAVs, enhancing their mobility and flexibility, and decreasing power consumption. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of UAV-enabled integrated communication and navigation and describes the challenges and future directions.