On the Mobility Effect in UAV-Mounted Absorbing Metasurfaces: A Theoretical and Experimental Study
Alexandros Pitilakis, Dimitrios Tyrovolas, Prodromos‐Vasileios Mekikis, Sotiris A. Tegos, Αλέξανδρος Παπαδόπουλος, Ageliki Tsioliaridou, Odysseas Tsilipakos, Dionysios Manessis, Sotiris Ioannidis, Nikolaos V. Kantartzis, Ian F. Akyildiz, Christos Liaskos
Abstract
In this work, we focus on the theoretical modeling and experimental evaluation of UAV-mounted absorbing metasurfaces as facilitators for secure wireless communication channels. Specifically, we present a network architecture based on UAV-mounted metasurfaces and conduct a comprehensive analysis of its components. Furthermore, by utilizing physical optics, we develop a comprehensive path loss model that accurately calculates the diffraction of wavefronts on metasurfaces with arbitrary configurations, which enables the quantification of path loss and mobility effects, including pointing accuracy, misalignment, and UAV flying stability, for both near- and far-field conditions. Finally, experimental measurements are conducted using a state-of-the-art static absorbing metasurface and a commercial UAV in an anechoic chamber environment and close agreement between theoretical and experimental results, down to the radiative near-field region, is illustrated. Specifically, our findings indicate that absorbing metasurfaces can act as notch filters with minimal impact on pointing and positioning accuracy, exhibiting a 3 dB beamwidth of ±15° compared to ideal static conditions.