Future 6G communications powering vertical handover in non-terrestrial networks

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dc.contributor.authorWarrier, Anirudh
dc.contributor.authorAljaburi, Lamees
dc.contributor.authorWhitworth, Huw
dc.contributor.authorAl-Rubaye, Saba
dc.contributor.authorTsourdos, Antonios
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-24T10:41:55Z
dc.date.available2024-04-24T10:41:55Z
dc.date.issued2024-02-29
dc.description.abstractThe integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into future 6G networks will open new possibilities for applications ranging from surveillance to communication infrastructure maintenance, precision agriculture, and surveying. However, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for UAVs operating in remote or dynamic environments remains a significant challenge. This paper presents a novel approach to achieving seamless handover for UAVs when transitioning between terrestrial and satellite communication networks. The proposed method in this paper, leverages graph theory and develop a decision-making algorithm to optimise handover decisions, minimizing latency, improving performance, and reducing service disruption. It establishes a comprehensive graph model that represents the dynamic topology of available network nodes, including terrestrial base stations and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which adapts in real-time to changes in UAV position and network conditions. The approach incorporates a decision-making algorithm that considers several factors, such as received signal strength (RSS), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and elevation angle, to determine the optimal time and location for a handover between terrestrial base stations and satellite links. This ensures a seamless transition between communication links, minimizing service disruption. The performance of this method is evaluated through extensive simulations and comparison with existing solutions demonstrating significant improvements in RSS, SNR, throughput, latency, ping-pongs and enhanced overall UAV connectivity. The proposed graph method-based seamless handover solution represents a crucial advancement in enabling reliable and uninterrupted communication for UAVs operating in remote and challenging environments. By managing handovers between terrestrial and satellite networks, this research contributes to the realisation of the full potential of UAVs in emerging applications, thereby advancing the state-of-the-art in UAV technology.en_UK
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Satellite Applications Catapulten_UK
dc.identifier.citationWarrier A, Aljaburi L, Whitworth H, et al., (2024) Future 6G communications powering vertical handover in non-terrestrial networks. IEEE Access, Volume 12, February 2024, pp. 33016-33034en_UK
dc.identifier.eissn2169-3536
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3371906
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/21257
dc.language.isoen_UKen_UK
dc.publisherIEEEen_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subject6Gen_UK
dc.subjectvertical handoveren_UK
dc.subjectsatelliteen_UK
dc.subjectgraph methoden_UK
dc.subjectnon-terrestrial networks (NTN)en_UK
dc.titleFuture 6G communications powering vertical handover in non-terrestrial networksen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-02-26

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