toplogo
Sign In

Energy-Aware Trajectory Optimization for UAV-Mounted Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces and Full-Duplex Relays


Core Concepts
The paper introduces an energy-aware trajectory design for UAV-mounted reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) and full-duplex relays (FDRs) to maximize the network's minimum rate and enhance user fairness, while considering the available on-board energy.
Abstract

The paper examines a network with K ground nodes (GNs) and a base station (BS), where a rotary-wing UAV equipped with either an RIS or an FDR acts as an intermediate node to establish line-of-sight communication between the GNs and the BS. The authors devise appropriate energy consumption models for both UAV-mounted RIS and UAV-mounted FDR that capture the relationship between factors like weight, flight duration, and the operational needs of RISs and FDRs in terms of energy.

The authors formulate a joint time division multiple access (TDMA) user scheduling and UAV trajectory optimization problem that accounts for the power dynamics associated with both RIS and FDR technologies. The problem is solved using a combination of alternate optimization and successive convex optimization techniques.

The simulation results demonstrate that for UAV-mounted RIS, increasing the number of reflecting elements does not necessarily translate into improved performance due to the added weight, which limits the UAV's operational flight time. In contrast, the UAV-mounted FDR consistently outperforms the nearly passive RIS, highlighting the key role of UAV motors and the associated weight in overall UAV energy consumption. The results also emphasize the crucial role of the UAV's battery capacity in trajectory optimization, directly influencing the optimal trajectory and necessitating UAV movement only when essential for minimizing energy consumption during traversal.

edit_icon

Customize Summary

edit_icon

Rewrite with AI

edit_icon

Generate Citations

translate_icon

Translate Source

visual_icon

Generate MindMap

visit_icon

Visit Source

Stats
The UAV's battery capacity is 45 Wh. The maximum achievable thrust of the UAV is 17 kg. The maximum UAV speed is 62 km/h.
Quotes
"Recognizing the pivotal role of UAV mobility, the paper introduces an energy-aware trajectory design for UAV-mounted RISs and UAV-mounted FDRs using the decode-and-forward (DF) protocol, aiming to maximize the network's minimum rate and enhance user fairness, while taking into consideration the available on-board energy." "Specifically, this work highlights their distinct energy consumption characteristics and their associated integration challenges by developing appropriate energy consumption models for both UAV-mounted RISs and FDRs that capture the intricate relationship between key factors such as weight, and their operational characteristics."

Deeper Inquiries

How can the proposed energy-aware trajectory optimization be extended to scenarios with multiple UAVs or heterogeneous communication technologies (e.g., combining RIS and FDR on the same UAV)

The proposed energy-aware trajectory optimization can be extended to scenarios with multiple UAVs or heterogeneous communication technologies by incorporating additional constraints and variables into the optimization problem. For scenarios with multiple UAVs, the optimization problem can be modified to include the trajectories and power consumption of each UAV, ensuring that the overall network performance is optimized while considering the energy constraints of all UAVs. This would involve introducing new variables for each UAV's trajectory and power consumption, as well as constraints to coordinate the movements of multiple UAVs to avoid interference and maximize coverage. In the case of heterogeneous communication technologies, such as combining RIS and FDR on the same UAV, the optimization problem can be adapted to account for the different energy consumption characteristics and operational requirements of each technology. This would involve developing separate energy consumption models for each technology and incorporating them into the optimization framework. Additionally, constraints can be added to ensure that the combined use of RIS and FDR on the same UAV does not exceed the available power resources and maximizes the network's performance. By extending the energy-aware trajectory optimization to scenarios with multiple UAVs or heterogeneous communication technologies, the network can benefit from improved coordination, enhanced coverage, and optimized energy efficiency across different technologies and UAVs.

What are the potential trade-offs between maximizing the network's minimum rate and ensuring the fairness among ground nodes, and how can they be balanced in the optimization problem

The potential trade-offs between maximizing the network's minimum rate and ensuring fairness among ground nodes lie in balancing the allocation of resources to achieve optimal performance while maintaining equity in service provision. Maximizing the network's minimum rate aims to enhance the overall performance by ensuring that even the weakest link in the network receives a satisfactory data rate. This can lead to improved network efficiency and user satisfaction. However, focusing solely on maximizing the minimum rate may result in unfair distribution of resources, where some ground nodes receive significantly higher data rates than others. Ensuring fairness among ground nodes involves allocating resources in a way that provides equal opportunities for all nodes to access the network and receive adequate data rates. This promotes equity and prevents certain nodes from being consistently disadvantaged. However, prioritizing fairness may lead to suboptimal network performance in terms of overall data rate and efficiency. To balance these trade-offs in the optimization problem, it is essential to incorporate fairness constraints that ensure a certain level of service for all ground nodes while maximizing the network's minimum rate. This can be achieved by setting constraints that limit the disparity in data rates among ground nodes and promote a more equitable distribution of resources. By striking a balance between maximizing the minimum rate and ensuring fairness, the optimization problem can achieve both improved network performance and user equity.

How can the insights from this work be applied to other UAV-assisted communication scenarios, such as disaster response or smart city applications, where energy efficiency and adaptive coverage are crucial

The insights from this work can be applied to other UAV-assisted communication scenarios, such as disaster response or smart city applications, where energy efficiency and adaptive coverage are crucial for effective communication networks. In disaster response scenarios, where communication infrastructure may be damaged or unavailable, UAVs can be deployed to establish temporary communication networks. By optimizing the UAV trajectories and communication technologies based on energy efficiency considerations, the communication coverage can be maximized while ensuring that the UAVs operate within their energy constraints. This can help emergency responders coordinate more effectively and provide assistance in critical situations. In smart city applications, where IoT devices and sensors require reliable and efficient communication networks, UAVs can be used to enhance connectivity and coverage. By applying energy-aware trajectory optimization techniques, the UAVs can adapt their paths to optimize communication links and conserve energy, ensuring sustainable operation in urban environments. This can lead to improved data collection, monitoring, and decision-making processes in smart city applications. Overall, the insights from this work can be instrumental in designing and optimizing UAV-assisted communication systems for various real-world scenarios, where energy efficiency, adaptive coverage, and network performance are essential considerations.
0
star