3-D Simulation of MANET with UAV in Mountainous Areas

In recent years, there has been a worldwide boom in mountain climbing because the activity has become easier due to the higher functionality and lighter weight of mountaineering equipment. As a result, mountain distress accidents have also increased. In the event of a disaster, effective communication for search and rescue is important. Mobile communication in the mountains, however, is limited because the terrain serves to block radio waves. Therefore, the use of MANET with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs; e.g., drones or balloons) is expected, although specific methods have not yet been clarified. Even in the ease of communication simulations, there are elevation differences of several thousand meters on mountain trails, and radio wave propagation losses peculiar to mountains. Therefore, in this study, a three-dimensional MANET simulation was carried out using the Hotaka mountain range as an example ease. Our radio wave propagation model ineludes a two-wave plane ground model, a double mountainous diffraction loss, and vegetation attenuation. The simulation by MANET using UAV as a relay device showed that the UAV expands the communicable area substantially in mountain communication. We also discuss the effects of rainfall and snow.