Low-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles based communication systems

Summary

Low-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, based communication systems are expected to provide wireless communication services (e.g. flying base stations or a relays) in future wireless networks. They are expected to provide communication services in unexpected (e.g. emergency) or on-demand (e.g. sports events) situations. They will be part of a multi-tier network architecture where they will be able to connect users on the ground and have backhaul wireless links to High-altitude UAVs, cellular networks (e.g. XG and upcoming 5G), satellites and their combinations.

In order to develop a reliable low-altitude UAV based communication system, it is important to understand the radio propagation channel among users on the ground and the UAV, commonly known as air-to-ground radio propagation channel. It is expected that along with or without line-of-sight (LOS) component, the radio propagation channel will consist of considerable multipath components due to the complex environments (e.g. urban or suburban).

Currently, very limited measurements are available to understand the low-altitude air-to-ground radio propagation channel. The better understating of the air-to-ground radio propagation channel will help the research communities and manufactures to develop reliable communication systems.

The successful applicant will be expected to investigate the low-altitude air-to-ground radio propagation channel. This will be an experimental based work where data will be collected in real environments (e.g. urban) and process to quantify the radio propagation channel parameters. Following is the breakdown of this Ph.D.:

1.Calibration of the wideband channel sounding equipment The channel sounding equipment will be tested to quantify its performance (e.g. sensitivity and dynamic range).

2.Data collection and processing Data will be collected with the wideband channel sounding equipment (attached with a drone) to record the radio propagation channel in different environments (e.g. urban) and processed to understand the radio propagation channel parameters.

The candidate will ideally have good knowledge of channel sounder, radio propagation channel, signal processing and programming (e.g. C/C++ and MATLAB).

Essential criteria

• To hold, or expect to achieve by 15 August, an Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) Degree or equivalent from a UK institution (or overseas award deemed to be equivalent via UK NARIC) in a related or cognate field.

Funding

The University offers the following awards to support PhD study and applications are invited from UK, EU and overseas for the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

Full award (full-time PhD fees + DfE level of maintenance grant + RTSG for 3 years).

This scholarship will cover full-time PhD tuition fees and provide the recipient with £15,000 maintenance grant per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance). This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

Vice-Chancellor’s Research Bursary (VCRB)

Part award (full-time PhD fees + 50% DfE level of maintenance grant + RTSG for 3 years).

This scholarship will cover full-time PhD tuition fees and provide the recipient with £7,500 maintenance grant per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance). This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fees Bursary (VCRFB)

Fees only award (PhD fees + RTSG for 3 years).

This scholarship will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance). This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £ 15,009 per annum for three years. EU applicants will only be eligible for the fee’s component of the studentship (no maintenance award is provided). For Non-EU nationals the candidate must be "settled" in the UK. This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies; for further information on cost of living etc. please refer to: www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/financing-your-studies