2-D deployment of aerial base stations: A simulation model to provide voice communication

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer a potential alternative for providing voice services in areas where communication is disrupted due to natural disasters. These UAVs can be configured as aerial base stations (ABSs), enabling the deployment of a temporary communications network. However, communication networks based on ABSs pose several significant challenges. One of these challenges involves addressing interruptions or limitations in network coverage caused by natural disasters. In such situations, there is a high likelihood that users within the affected area may be unable to communicate due to a lack of coverage. This is a complex problem because it depends on factors, such as the mobile user locations, the characteristics of the air-to-ground channel, and geographical details of the area. In this work, we propose an optimization model to determine the placement of a set of ABSs within a limited disaster area that maximizes the probability of successful voice services (PSVSs). This optimization model integrates a network evaluation model that analyzes the wireless environment at a specific time. The network evaluation model utilizes two-ray and Rayleigh channel models, enabling the simulation of a worst-case scenario for wireless communication systems. We evaluate the proposed optimization model using the (1+1)-evolution strategy with a one-fifth success rule. We explore various parameter configurations to understand their impact on algorithm performance. This analysis helps identify the configuration of the optimization model that yields the maximum PSVSs. Simulation results indicate that by appropriately configuring the evolution strategy algorithm and comparing random ABS locations with those determined ABS locations by the evolution strategy algorithm, the PSVS can be enhanced by an average of 60%.