Low-altitude airspace, roughly defined as the region up to 3000 meters above ground level, is envisioned as a new spatial domain for daily human and machine activities. This article introduces the concept of the Low-Altitude Wireless Network (LAWN), which represents a paradigm shift from the current ground-based communication-only network to a three-dimensional (3D) multifunctional network. We analyze the key driving forces, network architecture, and limiting factors of LAWN, with a particular focus on the tight integration of communication, sensing, and control in highly dynamic airspace environments. By establishing the coupling between airspace capacity and wireless channel capacity, we reveal the intrinsic limits of airspace management and identify the fundamental challenges and opportunities associated with its evolution.
翻译:低空空域大致定义为距地面3000米以内的区域,被视为人类与机器日常活动的全新空间维度。本文提出低空无线网络(LAWN)的概念,这标志着从当前基于地面的纯通信网络向三维多功能网络的范式转变。我们分析了LAWN的关键驱动因素、网络架构及限制条件,特别聚焦于高动态空域环境中通信、感知与控制的紧密融合。通过建立空域容量与无线信道容量之间的耦合关系,我们揭示了空域管理的内在本质限制,并明确了其演进过程中面临的根本性挑战与机遇。