Analysis of Altitude-Dependent Electronic Conspicuity in Cellular-Connected UAVs

2026-05-23

AI Summary

This study addresses the degradation of electronic conspicuity (EC) reliability in high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) caused by strong line-of-sight propagation that induces multi-base-station interference. By integrating empirical measurements from a helium-balloon platform with system-level simulations, the work quantitatively uncovers, for the first time, the interplay among flight altitude, multi-cell interference, fragmentation of base station association regions, and link performance variability. The findings reveal that as altitude increases, service range expands while dominance of neighboring sectors diminishes, leading to interference-dominated connectivity and consequent EC reliability deterioration. These insights establish a novel paradigm for UAV communications in cellular networks, emphasizing the need for altitude-aware and interference-aware system design.

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly integrated into cellular networks to support emerging Internet of Things (IoT) applications. In such settings, reliable communication is critical for electronic conspicuity (EC), enabling UAV detection and tracking in shared airspace. However, UAVs operate at elevated altitudes where enhanced line-of-sight (LOS) visibility leads to simultaneous exposure to multiple base stations, resulting in strong inter-cell interference. This article presents a system-level analysis of how UAV altitude influences the radio environment and affects EC reliability. Using spatial and network-level metrics, including serving distance, association behavior, and aggregate received power, we show that increasing altitude leads to stronger multi-cell interaction, reduced dominance of nearby sectors, and interference-dominated connectivity. These effects result in fragmented association regions and increased variability in link performance. The analysis is supported by measurement data from a helikite-based spectrum monitoring campaign and corresponding simulation results. Despite differences in experimental conditions, both approaches exhibit consistent altitude-dependent trends. These findings provide practical insights for designing altitude-aware and interference-aware cellular systems to support reliable UAV operation.

Problem

• electronic conspicuity
• cellular-connected UAVs
• altitude-dependent interference
• multi-cell interference
• UAV detection

Innovation

• altitude-dependent
• electronic conspicuity
• cellular-connected UAVs
• inter-cell interference
• system-level analysis