Aerial Integrated Access and Backhaul Networks

This paper introduces the innovative concept of Aerial Integrated Access and Backhaul (AIAB) networks and proposes an optimal bandwidth splitting and power control mechanism to enhance the energy efficiency for the UAVs and ground users equipment. The key contributions of this research include the introduction of AIAB networks based on the 3GPP principles, along with a comprehensive system model detailing channel and communication aspects. Additionally, a novel twostage optimization problem is formulated to address the resource allocation challenges, particularly focusing on optimal bandwidth splitting and uplink transmission power optimization. A Stackelberg game-theoretic approach is proposed to tackle this problem, facilitating the efficient resource management. Through detailed simulation-based experiments, the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed AIAB architecture and resource allocation mechanism are demonstrated, highlighting its superiority over centralized and semi-centralized approaches.