Modeling and Simulation for UAV Air-to-Ground mmWave Channels

In this paper, we propose a new three-dimensional (3D) channel model for the millimeter wave (mmWave) communication links between the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and vehicle. The new model applies the ray tracing (RT) theory in traditional geometry-based stochastic model (GBSM), and it also takes the specific features of mmWave propagation into account. Meanwhile, the time evolving algorithms of channel parameters, i.e., communication distance, propagation angles, path delays, and powers are analyzed and illustrated. On these basis, the mmWave channel simulations at 28 GHz are conducted under the campus scenario. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed model can generate the non-stationary Air-to-Ground mmWave channels, of which statistical properties have a good agreement with the measured ones. Therefore, this model is valuable for the system design, performance optimization, and evaluation of UAV mmWave communication systems.