Abstract-Low-altitude aerial platforms (LAPs) have recently gained significant popularity as key enablers for rapid deployable relief networks where coverage is provided by onboard radio heads. These platforms are capable of delivering essential wireless communication for public safety agencies in remote areas or during the aftermath of natural disasters. In this letter, we present an analytical approach to optimizing the altitude of such platforms to provide maximum radio coverage on the ground. Our analysis shows that the optimal altitude is a function of the maximum allowed pathloss and of the statistical parameters of the urban environment, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union. Furthermore, we present a closed-form formula for predicting the probability of the geometrical line of sight between a LAP and a ground receiver. Index Terms-Low altitude platform, air-to-ground communication, radio propagation, probability of line of sight.
A closed form expression for the probability of LoS between drones and UEs is developed in REF .
Optimal LAP Altitude for Maximum Coverage
IEEE Wireless Communications Letters
IEEE Wireless Communications Letters
Computer Science Mathematics