Entry loss calculation of a UAV-to-Indoor MIMO channel.

What is it about?

This study presents building entry loss and capacity results obtained from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-to-indoor narrowband dual-polarised multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) channel measurement campaign. Six different measurement scenarios were carried out with the transmitter (Tx) located on a low altitude platform (LAP) and the receiver (Rx) at various floors and distances from the external windows of a multi-storey building. An analytic and simple procedure is proposed for the calculation of entry loss. The results reveal that there is a strong dependence on the propagation geometry and the orientation of the receiver with respect to the moving LAP transmitter. The processed data for both entry loss and capacity indicate a two-state process that is closely related to the Tx–Rx relative azimuth and elevation angle.

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Photo by Kit Suman on Unsplash

Photo by Kit Suman on Unsplash

Why is it important?

In contrast to the aforementioned research activities, this paper pursues to present a simple and straightforward UAV-to-indoor building entry loss calculation procedure that is based on both measurements and deterministic data. This combination is preferable for its simplicity, as this approach introduces an external reference point that determines the propagation geometry related to the UAV trajectory. In addition, this work aims at providing capacity metrics of the UAV-to-indoor channel that reveal its efficiency. The results are based on narrowband dual-polarised MIMO measurements, carried out in an urban environment, with a mobile Tx on an airship, acting as a low altitude platform (LAP) and a stationary Rx in a multi-storey building.

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