# A System-Level Simulation Module for Multi-UAV IRS-assisted Communications

**Authors:** Giovanni Grieco, Giovanni Iacovelli, Daniele Pugliese, Domenico Striccoli, Luigi Alfredo Grieco  
**arXiv:** [2304.00929](https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.00929)  
**Date:** 2023-04-03  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2304.00929v1/

## Key points

- Sixth-Generation (6G) networks will revolutionize mobile broadband communications
- Internet of Drones (IoD) is a key component in the development of 3D networks
- Intelligent Reflective Surfaces (IRSs) combined with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer more degrees of freedom for mobile coverage
- The proposed simulation module for Multi-UAV IRS assisted communications provides an innovative approach to assess performance
- Simulation platform implements IRS as a peripheral device attached to a drone dynamically configured to organize into patches and assist communication between two nodes
- Simulation campaign demonstrates effectiveness through several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Supported by various projects funded by Italian MUR and MIMIT, and PON AGREED projects (ARS01 00254)
- Open source collaboration platforms will determine success or failure of future development endeavors.

## Summary

The development of Sixth-Generation (6G) networks is set to revolutionize mobile broadband communications, providing reliable and ultra-low-latency connectivity for a range of industries. The Internet of Drones (IoD) represents a key component in the development of 3D networks that integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructures. Intelligent Reflective Surfaces (IRSs) combined with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer more degrees of freedom to achieve flexible and prompt mobile coverage. As the concept of smart radio environment gains momentum, this work proposes an extension module for the Internet of Drones Simulator (IoD-Sim), based on Network Simulator 3 (ns-3), designed to assess the performance of UAV-aided IRS-assisted communication systems. The simulation platform implements the IRS as a peripheral device that can be attached to a drone dynamically configured to organize into patches and assign them to assist communication between two nodes. The extension relies on IoD-Sim's configuration facilities, which greatly ease design and coding scenarios in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). A simulation campaign demonstrates the effectiveness by discussing several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as Radio Environment Map (REM), Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), maximum achievable rate, and average throughput. It was also supported by PRIN project no. 2017NS9FEY entitled "Realtime Control of 5G Wireless Networks: Taming the Complexity of Future Transmission and Computation Challenges," funded by Italian MUR, "The house of emerging technologies of Matera(CTEMT)" project funded by Italian MIMIT, and PON AGREED projects (ARS01 00254) funded by Italian MUR. The emergence of a flourishing and empowering community on open source collaboration platforms will ultimately determine the success or failure of future development endeavors. The proposed simulation module for Multi-UAV IRS assisted communications provides an innovative approach to assess the performance of UAV aided IRS assisted communication systems which can be extended in multiple directions.