What Will the Future of UAV Cellular Communications Be? A Flight From 5G to 6G

What will the future of UAV cellular communications be? In this tutorial article, we address such a compelling yet difficult question by embarking on a journey from 5G to 6G and expounding a large number of case studies supported by original results. We start by overviewing the status quo on UAV communications from an industrial standpoint, providing fresh updates from the 3GPP and detailing new 5G NR features in support of aerial devices. We then dissect the potential and the limitations of such features. In particular, we demonstrate how sub-6 GHz massive MIMO can successfully tackle cell selection and interference challenges, we showcase encouraging mmWave coverage evaluations in both urban and…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1302336, 1564142, 1547332, 1824434
• SR
  Semiconductor Research Corporation
• EC
  European Commission

  Awards: 101017011, 871464, H2020, 694974, H2020 RISE-6G, H2020 RISE
• IC
  Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats
• NI
  National Institute of Standards and Technology
• H2
  Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

  Awards: 871464, 694974, 101017011
• ER
  European Research Council

  Award: 694974