# A Survey of Channel Modeling for UAV Communications

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.07359 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1801.07359/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 23 Jan 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Machine Learning-Aided Operations and Communications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Contemporary Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.04324/) (2022)
- [Federated Learning for 6G: Paradigms, Taxonomy, Recent Advances and Insights](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.04688/) (2023)
- [Reliable and Efficient Data Collection in UAV-based IoT Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.05303/) (2023)
- [Dynamic Trajectory and Power Control in Ultra-Dense UAV Networks: A Mean-Field Reinforcement Learning Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.14052/) (2024)
- [Physics-Based Trajectory Design for Cellular-Connected UAV in Rainy Environments Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.00017/) (2023)
- [A Glimpse of Physical Layer Decision Mechanisms: Facts, Challenges, and Remedies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.07258/) (2021)
- [Energy-Efficient UAV-Assisted IoT Data Collection via TSP-Based Solution Space Reduction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.01355/) (2023)
- [Lossy Cooperative UAV Relaying Networks: Outage Probability Analysis and Location Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.02120/) (2024)
- [AI-Empowered UAV-Assisted Backscatter Localization and ISAC for Zero-Energy IoT: A Comprehensive Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.23125/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained great interest for rapid deployment in both civil and military applications. UAV communication has its own distinctive channel characteristics compared with widely used cellular and satellite systems. Thus, accurate channel characterization is crucial for the performance optimization and design of efficient UAV communication systems. However, several challenges exist in UAV channel modeling. For example, propagation characteristics of UAV channels are still less explored for spatial and temporal variations in nontextendash stationary channels. Also, airframe shadowing has not yet been investigated for small size rotary UAVs. This paper provides an extensive survey on the measurement campaigns launched for UAV channel modeling using low altitude platforms and discusses various channel characterization efforts. We also review the contemporary perspective of UAV channel modeling approaches and outline some future research challenges in this domain.