A Robust Link Maintenance Algorithm for Directional UAV Networks Based on Breakage Probability Prediction

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Robust Link Maintenance Algorithm for Directional UAV Networks Based on Breakage Probability Prediction

AU - Song, Yifei

AU - Wang, Shuai

AU - Song, Zhe

AU - Yang, Xuanhe

AU - Pan, Gaofeng

AU - Niyato, Dusit

AU - Karagiannidis, George K.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2002-2012 IEEE.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications, coupled with directional antenna-based Flying Ad-Hoc Networks (FANETs), have received considerable attention for their potential to provide high-speed, low-latency communications for a variety of applications. However, the high mobility of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in FANETs leads to dynamic changes in relative positions, resulting in frequent link failures. Effective link maintenance in such networks has become a critical challenge. This paper addresses this issue by developing mathematical models of link disconnections in directional antenna-based FANETs. Specifically, we derive the probability density functions for link disconnections due to distance and angular misalignment in closed-form expressions. Based on these prediction models, we propose the Adaptive Link Breakage Prediction with Directionality (ALBP-D) method, which exploits the high directional gain of directional antennas to extend link lifetime and improve network performance. We compare ALBP-D with two baseline methods, the Periodic Link Maintenance (PLM) method and the Residual Path Lifetime (RPL) method, through extensive simulations. The results show that ALBP-D achieves superior performance, with approximately a 10-fold improvement in both link lifetime and network connectivity duration compared to the baseline methods. In addition, ALBP-D exhibits significant improvements in maintenance overhead efficiency, especially at higher max range adjustment count, achieving a 5 to 7-fold improvement over baseline methods. These results highlight the effectiveness of ALBP-D in directional antenna-based FANETs. We also implemented a prototype system consisting of a directional antenna node and an omnidirectional antenna node using realistic UAV trajectory data. Experimental results show that the prediction models agree well with the real link disconnection data, confirming the practical feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method.

AB - Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications, coupled with directional antenna-based Flying Ad-Hoc Networks (FANETs), have received considerable attention for their potential to provide high-speed, low-latency communications for a variety of applications. However, the high mobility of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in FANETs leads to dynamic changes in relative positions, resulting in frequent link failures. Effective link maintenance in such networks has become a critical challenge. This paper addresses this issue by developing mathematical models of link disconnections in directional antenna-based FANETs. Specifically, we derive the probability density functions for link disconnections due to distance and angular misalignment in closed-form expressions. Based on these prediction models, we propose the Adaptive Link Breakage Prediction with Directionality (ALBP-D) method, which exploits the high directional gain of directional antennas to extend link lifetime and improve network performance. We compare ALBP-D with two baseline methods, the Periodic Link Maintenance (PLM) method and the Residual Path Lifetime (RPL) method, through extensive simulations. The results show that ALBP-D achieves superior performance, with approximately a 10-fold improvement in both link lifetime and network connectivity duration compared to the baseline methods. In addition, ALBP-D exhibits significant improvements in maintenance overhead efficiency, especially at higher max range adjustment count, achieving a 5 to 7-fold improvement over baseline methods. These results highlight the effectiveness of ALBP-D in directional antenna-based FANETs. We also implemented a prototype system consisting of a directional antenna node and an omnidirectional antenna node using realistic UAV trajectory data. Experimental results show that the prediction models agree well with the real link disconnection data, confirming the practical feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method.

KW - FANETs

KW - MmWave

KW - directional antenna

KW - link breakage

KW - link lifetime

KW - link maintenance

KW - mobility model

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021097890

U2 - 10.1109/TWC.2025.3627301

DO - 10.1109/TWC.2025.3627301

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105021097890

SN - 1536-1276

VL - 25

SP - 6852

EP - 6868

JO - IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications

JF - IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications

ER -