Dynamic Spectrum Access for UAV Networks: A Stackelberg Game Approach

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been deployed to help with poor-quality of on-ground communication systems or finishing rescue missions. However, due to the limited availability of spectrum, there is no dedicated bandwidth for UAV communication, necessitating the borrowing of spectrum from Base Stations (BSs). In this paper, we design an algorithm to help BS make the decision of how to allocate the bandwidth to connected UAVs, how to price the bandwidth and try to maximize their profits. Specifically, we first introduce a UAV-assisted communication model and consider the cost incurred by the UAVs. Then we design the Stackelberg game based bandwidth allocation model including benefit function formulations for both the BSs and the UAVs. By analyzing the interactions between the BS and the UAVs, we obtain the optimal bandwidth trading strategy. The simulation results indicate the equilibrium containing bandwidth and price of the proposed game is the best choice which could maximize the profit functions of the BS and the UAVs. At the same time, the communication speed could be guaranteed.