NOMA-Based UAV-Aided Networks for Emergency Communications

High spectrum efficiency (SE) requirement and massive connections are the main challenges for the fifth generation (5G) and beyond 5G (B5G) wireless networks, especially for the case when Internet of Things (IoT) devices are located in a disaster area. Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided network is emerging as a promising technique to overcome the above challenges. In this paper, an emergency communications framework of NOMA-based UAV-aided networks is established, where the disasters scenarios can be divided into three broad categories that have named emergency areas, wide areas and dense areas. First, a UAV-enabled uplink NOMA system is established to gather information from IoT devices in emergency areas. Then, a joint UAV deployment and resource allocation scheme for a multi-UAV enabled NOMA system is developed to extend the UAV coverage for IoT devices in wide areas. Furthermore, a UAV equipped with an antenna array has been considered to provide wireless service for multiple devices that are densely distributed in disaster areas. Simulation results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the above three schemes. Finally, potential research directions and challenges are also highlighted and discussed

Energy-efficient non-orthogonal multiple access for wireless communication system

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been recognized as a potential solution for enhancing the throughput of next-generation wireless communications. NOMA is a potential option for 5G networks due to its superiority in providing better spectrum efficiency (SE) compared to orthogonal multiple access (OMA). From the perspective of green communication, energy efficiency (EE) has become a new performance indicator. A systematic literature review is conducted to investigate the available energy efficient approach researchers have employed in NOMA. We identified 19 subcategories related to EE in NOMA out of 108 publications where 92 publications are from the IEEE website. To help the reader comprehend, a summary for each category is explained and elaborated in detail. From the literature review, it had been observed that NOMA can enhance the EE of wireless communication systems. At the end of this survey, future research particularly in machine learning algorithms such as reinforcement learning (RL) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for NOMA are also discussed

Application of NOMA in 6G Networks: Future Vision and Research Opportunities for Next Generation Multiple Access

As a prominent member of the next generation multiple access (NGMA) family, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been recognized as a promising multiple access candidate for the sixth-generation (6G) networks. This article focuses on applying NOMA in 6G networks, with an emphasis on proposing the so-called "One Basic Principle plus Four New" concept. Starting with the basic NOMA principle, the importance of successive interference cancellation (SIC) becomes evident. In particular, the advantages and drawbacks of both the channel state information based SIC and quality-of-service based SIC are discussed. Then, the application of NOMA to meet the new 6G performance requirements, especially for massive connectivity, is explored. Furthermore, the integration of NOMA with new physical layer techniques is considered, followed by introducing new application scenarios for NOMA towards 6G. Finally, the application of machine learning in NOMA networks is investigated, ushering in the machine learning empowered NGMA era.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

RIS-Aided Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems for 6G: Fundamentals, System Design, and Applications

An introduction of intelligent interconnectivity for people and things has posed higher demands and more challenges for sixth-generation (6G) networks, such as high spectral efficiency and energy efficiency, ultra-low latency, and ultra-high reliability. Cell-free (CF) massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) and reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), also called intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), are two promising technologies for coping with these unprecedented demands. Given their distinct capabilities, integrating the two technologies to further enhance wireless network performances has received great research and development attention. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey of research on RIS-aided CF mMIMO wireless communication systems. We first introduce system models focusing on system architecture and application scenarios, channel models, and communication protocols. Subsequently, we summarize the relevant studies on system operation and resource allocation, providing in-depth analyses and discussions. Following this, we present practical challenges faced by RIS-aided CF mMIMO systems, particularly those introduced by RIS, such as hardware impairments and electromagnetic interference. We summarize corresponding analyses and solutions to further facilitate the implementation of RIS-aided CF mMIMO systems. Furthermore, we explore an interplay between RIS-aided CF mMIMO and other emerging 6G technologies, such as next-generation multiple-access (NGMA), simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT), and millimeter wave (mmWave). Finally, we outline several research directions for future RIS-aided CF mMIMO systems.Comment: 30 pages, 15 figure

Cellular, Wide-Area, and Non-Terrestrial IoT: A Survey on 5G Advances and the Road Towards 6G

The next wave of wireless technologies is proliferating in connecting things among themselves as well as to humans. In the era of the Internet of things (IoT), billions of sensors, machines, vehicles, drones, and robots will be connected, making the world around us smarter. The IoT will encompass devices that must wirelessly communicate a diverse set of data gathered from the environment for myriad new applications. The ultimate goal is to extract insights from this data and develop solutions that improve quality of life and generate new revenue. Providing large-scale, long-lasting, reliable, and near real-time connectivity is the major challenge in enabling a smart connected world. This paper provides a comprehensive survey on existing and emerging communication solutions for serving IoT applications in the context of cellular, wide-area, as well as non-terrestrial networks. Specifically, wireless technology enhancements for providing IoT access in fifth-generation (5G) and beyond cellular networks, and communication networks over the unlicensed spectrum are presented. Aligned with the main key performance indicators of 5G and beyond 5G networks, we investigate solutions and standards that enable energy efficiency, reliability, low latency, and scalability (connection density) of current and future IoT networks. The solutions include grant-free access and channel coding for short-packet communications, non-orthogonal multiple access, and on-device intelligence. Further, a vision of new paradigm shifts in communication networks in the 2030s is provided, and the integration of the associated new technologies like artificial intelligence, non-terrestrial networks, and new spectra is elaborated. Finally, future research directions toward beyond 5G IoT networks are pointed out.Comment: Submitted for review to IEEE CS&

A Comprehensive Overview on 5G-and-Beyond Networks with UAVs: From Communications to Sensing and Intelligence

Due to the advancements in cellular technologies and the dense deployment of cellular infrastructure, integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond cellular networks is a promising solution to achieve safe UAV operation as well as enabling diversified applications with mission-specific payload data delivery. In particular, 5G networks need to support three typical usage scenarios, namely, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC). On the one hand, UAVs can be leveraged as cost-effective aerial platforms to provide ground users with enhanced communication services by exploiting their high cruising altitude and controllable maneuverability in three-dimensional (3D) space. On the other hand, providing such communication services simultaneously for both UAV and ground users poses new challenges due to the need for ubiquitous 3D signal coverage as well as the strong air-ground network interference. Besides the requirement of high-performance wireless communications, the ability to support effective and efficient sensing as well as network intelligence is also essential for 5G-and-beyond 3D heterogeneous wireless networks with coexisting aerial and ground users. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research efforts on integrating UAVs into cellular networks, with an emphasis on how to exploit advanced techniques (e.g., intelligent reflecting surface, short packet transmission, energy harvesting, joint communication and radar sensing, and edge intelligence) to meet the diversified service requirements of next-generation wireless systems. Moreover, we highlight important directions for further investigation in future work.Comment: Accepted by IEEE JSA

NOMA-based UAV-Aided Networks for Emergency Communications

High spectrum efficiency (SE) requirement and massive connections are the main challenges for the fifth generation (5G) and beyond 5G (B5G) wireless networks, especially for the case when Internet of Things (IoT) devices are located in a disaster area. Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided network is emerging as a promising technique to overcome the above challenges. In this paper, an emergency communications framework of NOMA-based UAV-aided networks is established, where the disasters scenarios can be divided into three broad categories that have named emergency areas, wide areas and dense areas. First, a UAV-enabled uplink NOMA system is established to gather information from IoT devices in emergency areas. Then, a joint UAV deployment and resource allocation scheme for a multi-UAV enabled NOMA system is developed to extend the UAV coverage for IoT devices in wide areas. Furthermore, a UAV equipped with an antenna array has been considered to provide wireless service for multiple devices that are densely distributed in disaster areas. Simulation results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the above three schemes. Finally, potential research directions and challenges are also highlighted and discussed