AERPAW Air-to-ground channel sounding and multipath measurement with a UAV

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as critical for various use
cases, both military and civilian. This paradigm shift is poised to
revolutionize various industries and aspects of modern life, from
logistics and emergency services to environmental monitoring and
entertainment. However, the safety of these UAVs hinges on the
availability of a reliable wireless link between the UAV and the ground
infrastructure for real-time communication. To effectively harness the
vast potential of UAVs with safe and reliable wireless link, it is
essential to model the complex air-to-ground (A2G) channel accurately. In
this work, we present an open-source channel sounder built with
software-defined radios (SDRs), which enables real-time measurement and
characterization of the A2G channel in scenarios with mobility. Our
measurement campaign conducted in a rural area provides valuable insights
into the A2G channel’s characteristics, multipath effects, and channel
impairments. This work provides a foundation for the development of
accurate A2G channel models that can be used to optimize the design and
performance of UAV communication systems.