Pathloss Measurements and Modeling for UAVs Connected to Cellular Networks

This paper analyzes the radio channel between cellular network and Unmanned Aerial Vehichles (UAVs). The assessment is done by means of field measurements performed in a rural environment in Denmark. The tests were conducted in an operating LTE network (800 MHz), using a commercial cell phone placed inside the frame of a winged UAV. Trials were conducted with UAV flying at 5 different heights measured above ground level (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100m) and a pathloss regression line was obtained from the results. Thereafter, an analysis of downlink (DL) interference is performed for the reported measurements, which suggests that there is a height-related degradation on signal-to-interference levels. Three possible sources for this effect are also presented and discussed in this paper: expanded radio horizon at higher levels, line-of-sight (LOS) clearing and decreased obstruction of the first Fresnel zone. The importance of a better quantification of these factors are stressed as future work plans are described.