UAV Base Station Positioning via Cluster Trajectory and Antenna Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in determining the optimal 3-D location and trajectory of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) acting as base stations, particularly due to computational intensity, limited power availability, and dynamic network conditions, leading to sub-optimal performance in serving terrestrial user equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine the optimal 3-D location of UAVs by receiving cluster information from terrestrial UEs, calculating a circular trajectory, and adjusting antenna angles based on average data rates to maximize communication performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optimal 3-D location is determined periodically to improve communication performance, then sum-rate of served users is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous optimization problem into discrete event-triggered updates. Instead of continuously optimizing UAV location, the system divides the space into clusters and only recalculates location when specific events occur (user entry/exit, signal quality degradation), thereby reducing computational complexity while maintaining communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic location determination combined with event-triggered mechanisms. The UAV periodically evaluates whether to update its location based on predefined events rather than continuously optimizing, which reduces computational burden while still improving sum-rate when necessary.
2Reliability
If autonomous location determination is implemented to improve adaptability, then service reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the UAV to autonomously determine its own optimal location based on cluster information and event triggers without requiring continuous network control. This self-service capability improves service reliability by allowing rapid adaptation to changing conditions while reducing energy consumption by eliminating constant communication with the network for location updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary clustering of user locations and pre-defines event triggers for location updates. By preparing this information in advance, the UAV can make autonomous decisions without energy-intensive real-time calculations or continuous network communication, thus improving reliability while conserving energy.
3Ease of operation
If generic framework is used to determine location to improve ease of operation, then implementation simplicity is improved, but location determination precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining UAV location specifically based on cluster characteristics and event triggers rather than using a generic framework. The location optimization is tailored to the specific spatial distribution of users in each cluster, improving precision while maintaining implementation simplicity through the structured clustering approach.
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter refers methods and systems to determine location for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method comprises receiving information from a network entity, the information indicating that the plurality of terrestrial UEs form a cluster, determining whether at least one of a plurality of predefined events is triggered. The method comprises determining the location of the UAV by: receiving cluster information related to the cluster, determining circular trajectory of the cluster using the cluster information, receiving a first average data rate of the cluster at each of a plurality of locations along a circumference of the circular trajectory, determining an optimal down-tilt angle and an optimal bearing angle of an antenna panel of the UAV, and determining the location of the UAV based on the optimal down-tilt angle and the optimal bearing angle.