Throughput–Delay Trade-Off of UAV-Assisted Cellular Communication

Abstract

UAV-assisted cellular communication is a promising solution for enhanced small cell communication in the fifth-generation networksand beyond due to their low cost, high mobility and ease of deployment. However, trajectory planning and 3D placement algorithmsare required to achieve the benefits they provide. These algorithms lead to a throughput-delay trade-off problem. In this paper,the throughput-delay trade-off problem is investigated with respect to the UAV placement delay and the network throughput. It isshown that the minimum placement delay and the maximum achievable throughput cannot be obtained simultaneously.