MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Stochastic Geometry-Based Analysis of Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems With Aerial Users


    Qin, Yujie, Kishk, Mustafa A. and Alouini, Mohamed-Slim (2025) Stochastic Geometry-Based Analysis of Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems With Aerial Users. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 73 (7). pp. 5231-5246. ISSN 0090-6778

    [thumbnail of MK_stochastic geo.pdf]
    Preview
    Text
    MK_stochastic geo.pdf
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike.

    Download (1MB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Cell-free massive multiple-input-multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) systems are promising deployment paradigms for next-generation networks. They comprise a large number of base stations (BSs) and simultaneously serve all users over the same time and frequency resources. We analyze the performance of integrating aerial users, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into this novel system. Specifically, we consider a CF-mMIMO network containing both ground and aerial users and study the influence of system parameters on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and rate coverage performance. Additionally, we use tools from stochastic geometry to capture the spatial randomness of users and BSs and compare the performance of the CF-mMIMO system to that of traditional small cell systems. Given the improvement of dedicated antennas, such as up-tilted/down-tilted antennas, on the performance of small cell systems, we include the up-tilted/down-tilted antenna model in this work and analyze the omnidirectional antenna model as a special case. We derive both the exact expressions and dominant-signal-based approximations for SINR and rate coverage. Our numerical results demonstrate that the CF-mMIMO system exhibits better performance at low values of SINR and rate thresholds and higher minimum achievable SINR compared to the small cell system. Furthermore, we observe that users benefit dramatically from increasing altitudes and establishing line-of-sight (LoS) channels with BSs.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Cell-free massive MIMO; aerial users; stochastic geometry; small cell; coverage probability; achievable rate;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Electronic Engineering
    Item ID: 20600
    Identification Number: 10.1109/TCOMM.2024.3511948
    Depositing User: IR Editor
    Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2025 16:06
    Journal or Publication Title: IEEE Transactions on Communications
    Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/20600
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads