Connect Your UAV to the Cloud Using Urban 4G and 5G Cellular Networks: Performance Evaluation and Comparison

Dawei Liu; Qiwen Chen; Shuchang Li; Ziniu Wu; Liqi Chen; Xu He; Xin Huang; Wei Wang

doi:10.1109/IOTM.001.2200123

Connect Your UAV to the Cloud Using Urban 4G and 5G Cellular Networks: Performance Evaluation and Comparison

Dawei Liu, Qiwen Chen, Shuchang Li, Ziniu Wu, Liqi Chen, Xu He, Xin Huang, Wei Wang

Department of Computing

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for urban services has been an exciting topic in today's urban planning and management research. Most UAVs use unlicensed spectrum for remote control and communications. Their communication distance is limited within a few hundred meters; and the control channel is prone to interference. In comparison, urban cellular networks can cover a wide urban area with a low chance of interference, making them a viable alternative for UAVs on services that require real-time and reliable connections. In this article we provide a performance evaluation of this concept. We first address some key challenges in designing and implementing a UAV platform connected to cellular networks. The cellular networks include 4G and 5G. Then we use the platform to test the actual performance of 4G and 5G in urban areas with a focus on their signal strength and packet delay. A comparative analysis reveals the benefits 4G and 5G can bring to UAVs in urban flights.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	162-167
Number of pages	6
Journal	IEEE Internet of Things Magazine
Volume	5
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/IOTM.001.2200123
Publication status	Published - Dec 2022

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title = "Connect Your UAV to the Cloud Using Urban 4G and 5G Cellular Networks: Performance Evaluation and Comparison",

abstract = "Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for urban services has been an exciting topic in today's urban planning and management research. Most UAVs use unlicensed spectrum for remote control and communications. Their communication distance is limited within a few hundred meters; and the control channel is prone to interference. In comparison, urban cellular networks can cover a wide urban area with a low chance of interference, making them a viable alternative for UAVs on services that require real-time and reliable connections. In this article we provide a performance evaluation of this concept. We first address some key challenges in designing and implementing a UAV platform connected to cellular networks. The cellular networks include 4G and 5G. Then we use the platform to test the actual performance of 4G and 5G in urban areas with a focus on their signal strength and packet delay. A comparative analysis reveals the benefits 4G and 5G can bring to UAVs in urban flights.",

author = "Dawei Liu and Qiwen Chen and Shuchang Li and Ziniu Wu and Liqi Chen and Xu He and Xin Huang and Wei Wang",

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T1 - Connect Your UAV to the Cloud Using Urban 4G and 5G Cellular Networks: Performance Evaluation and Comparison

AU - Liu, Dawei

AU - Chen, Qiwen

AU - Li, Shuchang

AU - Wu, Ziniu

AU - Chen, Liqi

AU - He, Xu

AU - Huang, Xin

AU - Wang, Wei

PY - 2022/12

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AB - Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for urban services has been an exciting topic in today's urban planning and management research. Most UAVs use unlicensed spectrum for remote control and communications. Their communication distance is limited within a few hundred meters; and the control channel is prone to interference. In comparison, urban cellular networks can cover a wide urban area with a low chance of interference, making them a viable alternative for UAVs on services that require real-time and reliable connections. In this article we provide a performance evaluation of this concept. We first address some key challenges in designing and implementing a UAV platform connected to cellular networks. The cellular networks include 4G and 5G. Then we use the platform to test the actual performance of 4G and 5G in urban areas with a focus on their signal strength and packet delay. A comparative analysis reveals the benefits 4G and 5G can bring to UAVs in urban flights.

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DO - 10.1109/IOTM.001.2200123

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JO - IEEE Internet of Things Magazine

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Connect Your UAV to the Cloud Using Urban 4G and 5G Cellular Networks: Performance Evaluation and Comparison

Abstract

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