Propagation Characterization and Channel Modeling for UAV Communications

This book focuses on the propagation characterization and channel modeling of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communications. Currently, there are no books that cover this specific topic. The authors fill in this void by elaborating accurate yet easy-to-use UAV channel models. The authors also present such topics as propagation characteristics of  UAV communications, a time stationary regular-shaped geometry-based stochastic model (RS-GBSM) for UAV narrowband channels. It also introduces a time non-stationary RS-GBSM for UAV narrowband channels, a time non-stationary RS-GBSM for UAV wideband channels, a time-space non-stationary irregular-shaped geometry-based stochastic model (IS-GBSM) for UAV wideband channels and more. Finally, this book closes up with some promising directions, hoping to promote future research outcomes in the field of  UAV channel modeling.

As the UAV technology matures rapidly, UAV communications are shifting from military development to civilian and commercial sectors. The UAV communication is widely considered as a significant and indispensable component of wireless communications. It is well known that an accurate yet easy-to-use UAV channel model is the foundation of designing a proper UAV communication system and evaluating its performance. This book also provides valuable suggestions for the design of UAV communication systems by adequately presenting the UAV propagation characterization and channel modeling.

This book is mainly written for researchers and professionals working in wireless communications. Advanced-level students majoring in computer science or electrical engineering may also find the content useful as a secondary textbook.

Lu Bai  received the Ph.D. degree in Information and Communication Engineering from Shandong University, China, in 2019. From 2017 to 2019, she was also a visiting Ph.D. student at Heriot-Watt University, UK. From 2019 to 2022, she was a post-doc at Beihang University, China. She is currently a professor at Shandong University. Her general research interests are in areas of wireless communications and artificial intelligence, subject on which she has published more than 30 journal and conference papers, 2 books, holds 6 patents, and participated in 4 Chinese standards. Prof. Bai is a recipient of Qilu Young Scholar Award in 2022 and Taishan Scholar Award in 2023. She has served as the member of the Technical Program Committee and session chair for several international conferences. She is currently an Associate Editor of IET Communications. 

Ziwei Huang received the B.S. degree in communication engineering from Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, in 2019. He is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree with the School of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing, China. His current research interests include wireless communication channel measurements and modeling, including vehicular channel measurements and modeling, UAV channel modeling, and AI-based channel modeling. 

Xiang Cheng  received the Ph.D. degree jointly from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, U.K., in 2009. He is currently a Boya Distinguished Professor of Peking University. His general research interests are in areas of channel modeling, wireless communications, and data analytics, subject on which he has published more than 280 journal and conference papers, 9 books, and holds 23 patents. Prof. Cheng is a recipient of the IEEE Asia Pacific Outstanding Young Researcher Award in 2015, a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, a Highly Cited Chinese Researcher since 2020, and Xplorer Prize 2023. He was a co-recipient of the 2016 IEEE JSAC Best Paper Award: Leonard G. Abraham Prize, and the 2021 IET Communications Best Paper Award: Premium Award. He has also received the Best Paper Awards at IEEE ITST’12, ICCC’13, ITSC’14, ICC’16, ICNC’17, GLOBECOM’18, ICCS’18, and ICC’19. He has served as the symposium lead chair, co-chair, and member of the Technical Program Committee for several international conferences. Prof. Cheng led the establishment of 3 Chinese standards (including 1 industry standard and 2 group standards) and participated in the formulation of 10 3GPP international standards and 2 Chinese industry standards. He is currently a Subject Editor of IET Communications and an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, and the Journal of Communications and Information Networks, and is an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer. In 2021 and 2023, he was selected into two world scientist lists, including World’s Top 2% Scientists released by Stanford University and Top Computer Science Scientists released by Guide2Research.