Performance Analysis of Relay-Based Communication for FANET in 5G and Beyond
Research Article  ·  Published: 05 August 2025
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ICCK Transactions on Mobile and Wireless Intelligence
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025: 40-47
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Performance Analysis of Relay-Based Communication for FANET in 5G and Beyond

1 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul 34220, Turkey
2 Department of Electronics Engineering, Turkish Air Force Academy, National Defense University, Istanbul 34149, Turkey
* Corresponding Author: Sumaiya Sultana, [email protected]
Volume 1, Issue 1

Article Information

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have great potential in 5G and 6G networks due to their communication capabilities, low-cost, and adaptable deployment opportunities. The use of multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) systems is a more cost-effective and operationally efficient approach compared to using a single UAV system. Compared to a large UAV, flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) with small UAVs have many advantages. This UAV-based architecture typically uses clusters of UAVs, where the UAV acts as a cluster head (CH), collecting information from other UAVs and sending it to the emergency communication vehicle (ECV). Although this model works well in open areas, Non-line-of-sight (NLoS) issues caused by tall buildings, trees, places like hills, or other obstacles significantly damage its performance in urban environments. Due to their closeness to ground users, UAVs operating at low altitudes generally provide stronger signals and faster response times; however, they are more likely to encounter NLoS issues. We propose a reliable communication architecture that uses relay drones between CH and ECV to avoid these limitations. To prevent NLoS obstructions and assure a reliable and high-quality connection, these relay drones are deployed at strategic locations and altitudes. Our model dynamically adjusts altitude and position when obstacles arise to provide connectivity in urban environments, overcoming signal obstructions and improving the coverage. Simulation results show that our proposed architecture provides a reliable and adaptive communication framework in urban disaster situations to significantly improve important network performance metrics such as throughput, path loss, and outage probability under Nakagami-m fading channel and relay supported communication compared to traditional UAV clustering models, this improved model assures continuous information flow during critical search and rescue operations.

Graphical Abstract

Performance Analysis of Relay-Based Communication for FANET in 5G and Beyond

Keywords

UAVs relay low-altitude maximized coverage 5G UAV-based BS emergency communication FANET

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under Grant 123E106 and the Scientific Research Projects Coordination of Yildiz Technical University under Grant FBA-2024-6038.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

References

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Cite This Article

APA Style
Sultana, S., Karabulut, M. A., & Shah, A. F. M. S. (2025). Performance Analysis of Relay-Based Communication for FANET in 5G and Beyond. ICCK Transactions on Mobile and Wireless Intelligence, 1(1), 40–47. https://doi.org/10.62762/TMWI.2025.498166
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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Sultana, Sumaiya
AU  - Karabulut, Muhammet Ali
AU  - Shah, A. F. M. Shahen
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/08/05
TI  - Performance Analysis of Relay-Based Communication for FANET in 5G and Beyond
JO  - ICCK Transactions on Mobile and Wireless Intelligence
T2  - ICCK Transactions on Mobile and Wireless Intelligence
JF  - ICCK Transactions on Mobile and Wireless Intelligence
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
SP  - 40
EP  - 47
DO  - 10.62762/TMWI.2025.498166
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/TMWI.2025.498166
KW  - UAVs
KW  - relay
KW  - low-altitude
KW  - maximized coverage
KW  - 5G
KW  - UAV-based BS
KW  - emergency communication
KW  - FANET
AB  - Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have great potential in 5G and 6G networks due to their communication capabilities, low-cost, and adaptable deployment opportunities. The use of multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) systems is a more cost-effective and operationally efficient approach compared to using a single UAV system. Compared to a large UAV, flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) with small UAVs have many advantages. This UAV-based architecture typically uses clusters of UAVs, where the UAV acts as a cluster head (CH), collecting information from other UAVs and sending it to the emergency communication vehicle (ECV). Although this model works well in open areas, Non-line-of-sight (NLoS) issues caused by tall buildings, trees, places like hills, or other obstacles significantly damage its performance in urban environments. Due to their closeness to ground users, UAVs operating at low altitudes generally provide stronger signals and faster response times; however, they are more likely to encounter NLoS issues. We propose a reliable communication architecture that uses relay drones between CH and ECV to avoid these limitations. To prevent NLoS obstructions and assure a reliable and high-quality connection, these relay drones are deployed at strategic locations and altitudes. Our model dynamically adjusts altitude and position when obstacles arise to provide connectivity in urban environments, overcoming signal obstructions and improving the coverage. Simulation results show that our proposed architecture provides a reliable and adaptive communication framework in urban disaster situations to significantly improve important network performance metrics such as throughput, path loss, and outage probability under Nakagami-m fading channel and relay supported communication compared to traditional UAV clustering models, this improved model assures continuous information flow during critical search and rescue operations.
SN  - 3069-0692
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  - 
BibTeX Format
Compatible with LaTeX, BibTeX, and other reference managers
@article{Sultana2025Performanc,
  author = {Sumaiya Sultana and Muhammet Ali Karabulut and A. F. M. Shahen Shah},
  title = {Performance Analysis of Relay-Based Communication for FANET in 5G and Beyond},
  journal = {ICCK Transactions on Mobile and Wireless Intelligence},
  year = {2025},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {40-47},
  doi = {10.62762/TMWI.2025.498166},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/TMWI.2025.498166},
  abstract = {Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have great potential in 5G and 6G networks due to their communication capabilities, low-cost, and adaptable deployment opportunities. The use of multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) systems is a more cost-effective and operationally efficient approach compared to using a single UAV system. Compared to a large UAV, flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) with small UAVs have many advantages. This UAV-based architecture typically uses clusters of UAVs, where the UAV acts as a cluster head (CH), collecting information from other UAVs and sending it to the emergency communication vehicle (ECV). Although this model works well in open areas, Non-line-of-sight (NLoS) issues caused by tall buildings, trees, places like hills, or other obstacles significantly damage its performance in urban environments. Due to their closeness to ground users, UAVs operating at low altitudes generally provide stronger signals and faster response times; however, they are more likely to encounter NLoS issues. We propose a reliable communication architecture that uses relay drones between CH and ECV to avoid these limitations. To prevent NLoS obstructions and assure a reliable and high-quality connection, these relay drones are deployed at strategic locations and altitudes. Our model dynamically adjusts altitude and position when obstacles arise to provide connectivity in urban environments, overcoming signal obstructions and improving the coverage. Simulation results show that our proposed architecture provides a reliable and adaptive communication framework in urban disaster situations to significantly improve important network performance metrics such as throughput, path loss, and outage probability under Nakagami-m fading channel and relay supported communication compared to traditional UAV clustering models, this improved model assures continuous information flow during critical search and rescue operations.},
  keywords = {UAVs, relay, low-altitude, maximized coverage, 5G, UAV-based BS, emergency communication, FANET},
  issn = {3069-0692},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}

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