Base station - UAV Network Communication
Software: NetSim Standard v13.3(64 bit), Visual Studio 2022, MATLAB 2021b or higher. MATLAB,
Simulink, Robotics and System Toolbox.
Project Download Link:
https://github.com/NetSim-TETCOS/5G-UAV-Communication_v13.3/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
Follow the instructions specified in the following link to download and setup the Project in NetSim:
https://support.tetcos.com/en/support/solutions/articles/14000128666-downloading-and-setting-up-
netsim-file-exchange-projects
Objective
Performance analysis of UAV - Base station network communications. This involves interfacing
NetSim and UAV toolbox of MATLAB.
• For Each UE in NetSim, a UAV is instantiated in MATLAB as per the UE (UAV) ID.
• MATLAB calculates the flight path and passes the Mobility information to NetSim.
• In NetSim UE movement is modelled as per MATLAB UAV co-ordinates
• Pathloss calculations done in NetSim per 38.101.
NetSim UAV Simulation model
UAV Takes and moves away from gNB UAV flies in a circular pattern over the gNB
Figure 1: NetSim UAV Simulation model
Code modifications
Files attached and their modifications are explained below.
1. LTENR_PropagationModel.c - Added LTE-UAV propagation model for Rural macro as per
3GPP 36.777 Standard.
2. UAVBasedMobility.c - A newly created added to the Mobility Project. The interface with
MATLAB happens here to get co-ordinates from MATLAB and to pass it to NetSim.
3. OpSimulink.m - To initiate simulink
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NetSim - Simulink Interfacing
Upon interfacing NetSim with MATLAB the following tasks are performed during simulation start:
• MATLAB Engine process is initialized.
• MATLAB Desktop window is loaded.
• SIMULINK Model is loaded
Upon simulating a network created in NetSim the following tasks are performed periodically:
• SIMULINK Model is simulated
• SIMULINK Model is paused
• NetSim reads the data generated by SIMULINK from MATLAB workspace
• Appends the readings to the packet payload as packets are formed.
During the Simulation, the SIMULINK Model is started and paused several times for NetSim and
SIMULINK simulations to run synchronously. The X, Y and Z coordinates obtained from SIMULINK
are read from MATLAB workspace and given as input to NetSim's Mobility model. In this example,
coordinates are taken every one second and updated to the device mobility.
Output/Metrics specific to this example
• NetSim Animation: Mobility of the devices configured in NetSim is given as input from
MATLAB.
• Pathloss is implemented as per 36.777 Standard.
• NetSim Plot Results: Throughput analysis as the UAV moves away from the gNB
Modifications done to NetSim Source codes:
Project: Mobility
Files:
• Mobility.c,
• Mobility.h,
• Added - UAVBasedMobility.c
• Mobility.vcxproj (Project file)
Sections of source code modified
• Mobility.c
• fn_NetSim_Mobility_Init(): call to init_uav() function
• fn_NetSim_Mobility_Run(): Call to uav_run() function
• fn_NetSim_Mobility_Finish()
• Mobility.h
• MATLAB Engine variable - Used to initiate and interact with MATLAB Engine process
• Mobility.vcxproj - This is a Visual Studio project file used to load and manage the source
codes related to the Mobility in NetSim.
• path to MATLAB application
• path to MATLAB include directory.
• path to MATLAB lib directory
• information related to dependent MATLAB library files.
• UAVBasedMobility.c
• init_uav(): Initializes MATLAB, Loads SIMULINK Model, starts and pauses SIMULINK
simulation, and initializes the UAV devices in MATLAB to start simulation along with
NetSim's simulation.
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• uav_run(): Starts NetSim and MATLAB simulation simultaneously and gets the co-
ordinates from MATLAB workspace for every step size set in NetSim.
• uavcorr(): Function to get co-ordinates from MATLAB.
Steps to simulate
1. Add the following MATLAB install directory path in the Environment PATH variable
<MATLAB_INSTALL_DIRECTORY>\bin\win64
For eg: C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021b\bin\win64
Figure 2: Environment PATH variable
Note: If the machine has more than one MATLAB installed, the directory for the target platform must
be ahead of any other MATLAB directory (for instance, when compiling a 64-bit application, the
directory in the MATLAB 64-bit installation must be the first one on the PATH).
2. Copy GeneralProperties.xml file to <NetSim Installation Directory>\ Docs\xml\Properties. And copy
Configuration.xsd to <Netsim Installation Directory>\Bin path.
3. Open the Source codes in Visual Studio by going to Your Work-> Workspace Options and Clicking
on Open code button.
4. Open the Source codes in Visual Studio by going to Your Work-> Workspace Options and Clicking
on Open code button.
5. Under the Mobility project in the solution explorer, you will be able to see that and
UAV_Matlab_Interface.c files which contain source codes related to interactions with MATLAB and
handling clustering in NetSim respectively.
6. Run NetSim as Administrative mode.
Examples
1. The LTE_UAV_Simulation_Workspace comes with a sample configuration that is already saved.
To open this example, go to Your Work option in the Home Screen of NetSim and click on the
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LTE_UAV_Sample from the list of experiments.
2. Run simulation and press any key to continue.
3. It will open MatlabInterface.exe console window. You will observe that as the simulation starts in
NetSim, MATLAB gets initialized and UAV Animation for all the devices in NetSim gets initialized
and as the simulation runs there will be continuous interaction between NetSim and MATLAB where
the X, Y and Z co-ordinates will be updated in NetSim from MATLAB.
Example
Case 1: UAV Drone Takeoff - Application throughput variation with Drone mobility
• NetSim Plot: Application Throughput vs. Time
Figure 3: Application Throughput vs. Time from NetSim
• MATLAB Flight Path
Figure 4: MATLAB Flight Path
Case 2: UAV Drone rotation around gNB
• NetSim Plot: Application Throughput Vs. Time
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Figure 5: Application Throughput Vs. Time from NetSim
• MATLAB Flight Path
Figure 6: MATLAB Flight Path from NetSim
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