Visible light communication in aircraft cabins: challenges and opportunities in power, coverage, and handover management
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Ajit Kumar
Abstract
Visible light communication (VLC) presents a compelling solution for enhancing in-flight connectivity within commercial aircraft cabins. This study investigates the power distribution, coverage area, and handover performance of VLC systems inside aircraft based on line-of-sight (LoS) and first reflection signal. Results indicate that received power levels at different receiver positions are significantly affected with varying half-power semi-angles. Analysis of first reflection signal power distribution reveals maximum reflected power is achieved at semi-angle equal to 45°. Simulated coverage areas demonstrate the importance of half-power semi-angle size in determining signal confinement and separability. Handover simulations highlight the dynamic nature of passenger mobility and its impact on handover frequency, with smaller semi-angles resulting in higher handover counts. While directional transmission offers benefits such as interference mitigation and spatial reuse, it also introduces challenges related to handover frequency and coverage area. These findings underscore the need for careful optimization of VLC system designs and handover algorithms to ensure seamless connectivity and optimal performance in diverse aircraft environments.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: The author has accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: Not applicable.
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