Mode selection schemes for D2D enabled unmanned aerial vehicle-based wireless networks

In this study, the authors present and evaluate the performance of two mode selection schemes for device-to-device (D2D) enabled unmanned aerial vehicle-based wireless networks. The proposed schemes are based on a threshold received signal strength and an average threshold D2D distance to select the D2D mode. The focus of the two schemes is either to enhance the quality of the signal or the connectivity in case of emergency situations. To evaluate the performances of the schemes, they derive the corresponding expressions of the probability of using D2D mode and ergodic capacity. Numerical results show the advantage of the presented schemes in off-loading traffic from aerial platforms and shed lights on the effect of the environment on the performance of D2D enabled aerial networks.