面向6G的无人机通信综述

Survey on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Communications for 6G

5G的成功商用为日常生活带来了实质性的变化,如自动驾驶、万物互联等,然而随之也产生了更大的数据量需求,进而催生了第6代移动通信。相较于5G,6G在带宽、时延、覆盖等性能方面均需要有更大的提升。因此,该文针对全域覆盖、场景智联、信息耦合的6G网络中无人机(UAVs)的应用场景进行了综述。首先,针对无人机在空天地海一体化网络架构中的应用进行了陈述,重点讨论了无人机在不同场景中可能承担的角色及功能,如蜂群基站、全息投影部署、远距离中继通信以及数据采集等。然后,对6G中应用于无人机通信的太赫兹、超大规模天线、内生人工智能、智能反射面(IRS)、智能边缘计算、区块链、通信感知一体化等潜在关键技术进行了探讨。最后,对6G场景下无人机通信面临的续航时间、网络融合性、智能反射面兼容性、太赫兹通信研发以及用户安全等方面的技术挑战进行了展望。

Although the application of the fifth-Generation(5G)mobile communication has brought tremendous innovations to the daily life of human beings,e.g.,autonomous vehicles and internet of everything,the upcoming huger data requirement leads to the emergence of the sixth-Generation(6G)mobile communication.Compared to 5G,the transmission rate,time delay,and wireless coverage need to be improved significantly.Thus,in this paper the applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs)to the ubiquitous,intelligent and coupling 6G network are surveyed.First,the utilization of UAVs in the framework of space-air-ground-sea integrated network is demonstrated,and the roles and functions of UAVs in different scenarios are emphasized,e.g.,the swarm base stations,the deployment for holographic projection,the long-distance relaying and the data collection.Then,the potential 6G key techniques of terahertz,ultra-massive multiple-input and multiple-output,endogenous artificial intelligence,Intelligent Reflecting Surface(IRS),intelligent edge computing,blockchain and integrated sensing and communication for UAV communications are investigated.Finally,the future challenges of UAV communications for 6G,including the limited duration,integration of networks,compatibility of IRS,development of THz communications,and user security are discussed.