Map-Based UAV mmWave Channel Model and Characteristics Analysis

In this paper, a new millimeter wave (mmWave) channel model based on the digital map for UAV-to-ground communications is developed. Two key steps to run the proposed model, i.e., the reconstruction of scattering scenario based on the digital map and parameter computation based on the raytracing (RT) method, are demonstrated in detail. Based on the proposed channel model, the channel characteristics under different scenarios are analyzed based on the massive RT simulated data. We conduct the RT simulations at the 28 GHz under urban, hilly, forest, and sea scenarios, respectively. The intercluster and intra-cluster channel parameters including the cluster number, power gain, delay, and angles are investigated. The simulation and analyze results show that the inter-cluster and intra-cluster channel characteristics are different obviously in different scenarios.