UAV-Assisted 6G Communication Networks for Railways: Technologies, Applications, and Challenges

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are crucial for advancing railway communication by offering reliable connectivity, adaptive coverage, and mobile edge services . This survey examines UAV-assisted approaches for 6G railway needs including ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). We cover railway channel models, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and UAV-assisted mobile edge computing (MEC). Key challenges include coexistence with existing systems, handover management, Doppler effect, and security. The roadmap suggests work on integrated communication-control systems and AI-driven optimization for intelligent railway networks.