A Middleware for Digital Twin-Enabled Flying Network Simulations Using UBSim and UB-ANC

Abstract

Data-driven control based on AI/ML techniques has a great potential to enable zero-touch automated modeling, optimization and control of complex wireless systems. However, it is challenging to collect network traces in the real world because of high time and labor cost, weather limitations as well as safety concerns. In this work we attempt to tackle this challenge by designing a multi-fidelity simulator taking wireless Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) networks into consideration. We design the simulator by interfacing two Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) simulators we have developed in prior years: UBSim and UB-ANC. The former focuses on UAV network optimization and policy training by considering explicitly the network environments such as blockage dynamics, while the latter focuses more on high-fidelity UAV flight control. We first develop a coordination interface referred to as SimSocket for signaling exchanges between UBSim and UB-ANC in simulations, and then showcase coordinated simulations based on UBSim and UB-ANC. The new research that can be enabled by the integrated simulator is also discussed for digital twin-based UAS systems.