Predictive Aerial Coverage Validation

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Program: Mcity / , University of Michigan, with industry partners · Period: 2026–2027 (ongoing)

Cellular networks are increasingly used to support low-altitude drone operations, for command and control and for situational awareness. Coverage predictions for the airspace above the ground are hard to trust without independent measurement. This project independently validates a predictive lower-airspace 4G/5G coverage model.

My role

Technical lead for the independent validation.
Quantify prediction accuracy and its uncertainty, and characterize the conditions under which prediction error grows, such as altitude, terrain, and frequency band.
Measurement flights follow the published ACJA Reference Method, and hold-out flights are kept separate from any model tuning.

Results will be shared through peer-reviewed publication, subject to sponsor review.

Advanced Air Mobility | Efe Yarbasi, PhD

Predictive Aerial Coverage Validation