1,340 research outputs found
Synergizing Airborne Non-Terrestrial Networks and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces-Aided 6G IoT
On the one hand, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) emerge as a
promising solution to meet the demand for higher data rates, improved coverage,
and efficient spectrum utilization. On the other hand, Non-Terrestrial Networks
(NTNs) offer unprecedented possibilities for global connectivity. Moreover, the
NTN can also support the upsurge in the number of Internet of Things (IoT)
devices by providing reliable and ubiquitous connectivity. Although NTNs have
shown promising results, there are several challenges associated with their
usage, such as signal propagation delays, interference, security, etc. In this
article, we have discussed the possibilities of integrating RIS with an NTN
platform to overcome the issues associated with NTN. Furthermore, through
experimental validation, we have demonstrated that the RIS-assisted NTN can
play a pivotal role in improving the performance of the entire communication
system.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
IRS-assisted UAV Communications: A Comprehensive Review
Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) can smartly adjust the wavefronts in
terms of phase, frequency, amplitude and polarization via passive reflections
and without any need of radio frequency (RF) chains. It is envisaged as an
emerging technology which can change wireless communication to improve both
energy and spectrum efficiencies with low energy consumption and low cost. It
can intelligently configure the wireless channels through a massive number of
cost effective passive reflecting elements to improve the system performance.
Similarly, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication has gained a viable
attention due to flexible deployment, high mobility and ease of integration
with several technologies. However, UAV communication is prone to security
issues and obstructions in real-time applications. Recently, it is foreseen
that UAV and IRS both can integrate together to attain unparalleled
capabilities in difficult scenarios. Both technologies can ensure improved
performance through proactively altering the wireless propagation using smart
signal reflections and maneuver control in three dimensional (3D) space. IRS
can be integrated in both aerial and terrene environments to reap the benefits
of smart reflections. This study briefly discusses UAV communication, IRS and
focuses on IRS-assisted UAC communications. It surveys the existing literature
on this emerging research topic and highlights several promising technologies
which can be implemented in IRS-assisted UAV communication. This study also
presents several application scenarios and open research challenges. This study
goes one step further to elaborate research opportunities to design and
optimize wireless systems with low energy footprint and at low cost. Finally,
we shed some light on future research aspects for IRS-assisted UAV
communication
A Survey on UAV-Aided Maritime Communications: Deployment Considerations, Applications, and Future Challenges
Maritime activities represent a major domain of economic growth with several
emerging maritime Internet of Things use cases, such as smart ports, autonomous
navigation, and ocean monitoring systems. The major enabler for this exciting
ecosystem is the provision of broadband, low-delay, and reliable wireless
coverage to the ever-increasing number of vessels, buoys, platforms, sensors,
and actuators. Towards this end, the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) in maritime communications introduces an aerial dimension to wireless
connectivity going above and beyond current deployments, which are mainly
relying on shore-based base stations with limited coverage and satellite links
with high latency. Considering the potential of UAV-aided wireless
communications, this survey presents the state-of-the-art in UAV-aided maritime
communications, which, in general, are based on both conventional optimization
and machine-learning-aided approaches. More specifically, relevant UAV-based
network architectures are discussed together with the role of their building
blocks. Then, physical-layer, resource management, and cloud/edge computing and
caching UAV-aided solutions in maritime environments are discussed and grouped
based on their performance targets. Moreover, as UAVs are characterized by
flexible deployment with high re-positioning capabilities, studies on UAV
trajectory optimization for maritime applications are thoroughly discussed. In
addition, aiming at shedding light on the current status of real-world
deployments, experimental studies on UAV-aided maritime communications are
presented and implementation details are given. Finally, several important open
issues in the area of UAV-aided maritime communications are given, related to
the integration of sixth generation (6G) advancements
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