# Waveform and Spectrum Management for Unmanned Aerial Systems Beyond 2025

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.01664 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1708.01664/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 4 Aug 2017.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Collaborative Wideband Spectrum Sensing and Scheduling for Networked UAVs in UTM Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.05036/) (2023)
- [Federated Learning-based Collaborative Wideband Spectrum Sensing and Scheduling for UAVs in UTM Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.01727/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The application domains of civilian unmanned aerial systems (UASs) include agriculture, exploration, transportation, and entertainment. The expected growth of the UAS industry brings along new challenges: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight control signaling requires low throughput, but extremely high reliability, whereas the data rate for payload data can be significant. This paper develops UAV number projections and concludes that small and micro UAVs will dominate the US airspace with accelerated growth between 2028 and 2032. We analyze the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform because it can provide the much needed flexibility, spectral efficiency, and, potentially, reliability and derive suitable OFDM waveform parameters as a function of UAV flight characteristics. OFDM also lends itself to agile spectrum access. Based on our UAV growth predictions, we conclude that dynamic spectrum access is needed and discuss the applicability of spectrum sharing techniques for future UAS communications.