Dataset-4: AERPAW helikite spectrum measurements at Lake Wheeler site in May 2022
Lead Experimenter
Ozgur Ozdemir, North Carolina State University
Link to Dataset
- Power Spectrum Monitoring Dataset:
The dataset includes power spectrum measurements and GPS logs that are collected at a helikite at different altitudes. SigMF format dataset including format conversion codes can be accessed here [Dryad]. - Post Processing Code:
Post-processing Matlab codes for the dataset to generate representative results can be accessed here [download].
Publications Using This Dataset
- A. H. F. Raouf, D. Lee, M. Rahman, S. Masrur, G. Reddy, C. Dickerson, M. S. Hossen, S. Vargas Villar, A. Gürses, S. Singh, S. J. Maeng, M. Ezuma, C. Roberts, M. R. Sarbudeen, T. J. Zajkowski, M. Mushi, O. Ozdemir, R. Asokan, I. Guvenc, M. L. Sichitiu, R. Dutta, “Curated Wireless Datasets for Aerial Networks Research,” Nature npj Wireless Technology, June 2026.
- A. F. H. Raouf, I. Guvenc, “Multi-Year Spectral Structure of 6G Candidate Bands at 2.7 GHz and 4.4 GHz,” Proc. IEEE DySpan Workshops, May 2026.
- S. J. Maeng, A. H. F. Raouf, O. Ozdemir, I. Guvenc, M. L. Sichitiu, “Height-Dependent Spectrum Activity Measurements and Modeling: A Case Study with FM Radio Bands,” Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf. (VTC), February 2026.
- S. J. Maeng, A. H. F. Raouf, I. Guvenc, O. Ozdemir, M. Sichitiu, R. Dutta, “Key Observations from Altitude-Dependent Sub-6 GHz Spectrum Measurements at AERPAW,” Proc. IEEE DySpan Workshops, May 2024.
- A. H. F. Raouf, S. J. Maeng, I. Guvenc, O. Ozdemir, M. Sichitiu, “Cellular Spectrum Occupancy Probability in Urban and Rural Scenarios at Various UAS Altitudes,” Proc. IEEE Personal, September 2023.
- A. H. F. Raouf, S. J. Maeng, I. Guvenc, O. Ozdemir, M. L. Sichitiu, “Spectrum Monitoring and Analysis in Urban and Rural Environments at Different Altitudes,” Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf. (VTC), June 2023.
- S. J. Maeng, O. Ozdemir, H. Nandakumar, I Guvenc, M. Sichitiu, R. Dutta, M. J. Mushi, “Spectrum Activity Monitoring and Analysis for Sub-6 GHz Bands Using a Helikite,” Proc. IEEE Testbeds for Advanced Systems Implementation and Research (TASIR) Workshop, January 2023.
- A. H. F. Raouf, “Improving Wireless Spectrum Utilization: Hybrid VLC-RF Networks and Sub-6 GHz Aerial Spectrum Measurements, Analysis, and Datasets,” Ph.D. dissertation, January 2026.
Equipment and Software Used
LPN on Helikite, USRP B205mini on LPN, UHD1 Spectrum monitoring software
Description
In this experiment, the AERPAW helikite flies up to 500 feet altitude, at increments of 10 meters, while waiting for 5 minutes in between altitude changes. The USRP B205mini continuously sweeps the spectrum up to 6 GHz while the helikite is at a fixed altitude, and power measurements at each frequency band are logged. The results are post-processed in Matlab to observe the spectrum occupancy at different bands and the effect of spectrum sensing altitude on the occupancy results.
Representative Results
You can access representative results on spectrum occupancy measurements as a function of the helikite altitude here.
- Pictures in the Experiment: a Helikite Floats Lake Wheeler Site
- Result figures
(Left) AERPAW helikite’s location in 3D over Google, (Center) Variation of the helikite’s altitude in meters as a function of time, and (Right) spectrum monitoring of LTE bands as a function of altitude.
Potential use cases for this dataset include:
- Enhancing Spectrum Management
- Environmental and Geographical Analysis of Spectrum
- Spectrum Occupancy Modeling at all sub-6 GHz Bands