Abstract
Non-terrestrial networks, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) nodes and Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites, are expected to have a pivotal role in sixth-generation wireless networks. With inherent features such as flexible placement, wide footprints, and preferred channel conditions, they can tackle several challenges faced by current terrestrial networks. However, their successful and widespread adoption relies on energy-efficient on-board communication systems. In this context, the integration of Reconfigurable Smart Surfaces (RSS) into aerial platforms is envisioned as a key enabler of energy-efficient and cost-effective aerial platform deployments. RSS consist of low-cost reflectors capable of smartly directing signals in a nearly passive way. In this paper, we investigate the link budget of RSS-assisted communications for two RSS reflection paradigms discussed in the literature, namely “specular” and “scattering” paradigms. Specifically, we analyze the characteristics of RSS-equipped aerial platforms and compare their communication performance with that of RSS-assisted terrestrial networks using standardized channel models. In addition, we derive the optimal aerial platform placements for both reflection paradigms. Our results provide important insights for the design of RSS-assisted communications. For instance, given that a HAPS has a large area for RSS, it provides superior link budget performance in most studied scenarios. In contrast, the limited RSS area on UAVs and the large propagation loss in LEO satellite communications make them unfavorable candidates for supporting terrestrial users. Finally, the optimal location of an RSS-equipped platform may depend on the platform’s altitude, coverage footprint, and type of environment
Highlights
As the fifth generation (5G) of wireless systems are being actively deployed, researchers in the wireless community have started investigating new technologies and innovative solutions to tackle the challenges and fulfill the demands of of nextgeneration (6G) networks
Given that platforms operate at different altitudes and may experience different attenuation phenomena, we study the link budget for Reconfigurable Smart Surfaces (RSS)-assisted Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) separately from RSS-equipped High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) nodes and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites
The results show that in both specular and scattering reflection paradigms, the HAPS system provides the best performance due to its large surface area that accommodates the highest number of RSS reflectors
Summary
As the fifth generation (5G) of wireless systems are being actively deployed, researchers in the wireless community have started investigating new technologies and innovative solutions to tackle the challenges and fulfill the demands of of nextgeneration (6G) networks. With the inherent limitations of terrestrial environments, non-terrestrial networks are envisioned as an enabling technology for ubiquitous connectivity in future wireless communications. Non-terrestrial networks including such platforms as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) nodes, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are capable of addressing such challenges as coverage holes, blind spots, sudden increases in throughput demand, and terrestrial network failures. They can address these challenges due to their wider coverage footprints, strong lineof-sight (LoS) links, and flexibility of deployment compared to terrestrial networks [1]–[5]. The standardization efforts of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) aiming to utilize aerial platforms for 5G and beyond have made
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