Net-Zero Power UAVs: Facilitating Quantum HRLLC in Multi-Hop UAV Repeaters

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel joint optimization framework for autonomous, quantum-enabled UAV repeater networks designed to support hyper-reliable low-latency communications (HRLLC) in challenging environments such as post-explosion chemical plant operations. The proposed system uses a symmetric dual-UAV architecture with three sequential quantum channels operating under strict energy harvesting (EH) constraints. We formulate a highly challenging non-convex mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem. This model jointly determines qubit allocation, 2-D uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) spatial positioning (distance and altitude), and transmit powers to minimize the total decoding error. Crucially, our framework explicitly models real-world quantum physics, including decoherence, gate imperfections, and entanglement degradation. Since the objective function is demonstrably non-convex, to efficiently solve the MINLP, we propose a quantum-resource-optimized GA (QRO-GA). The results of our numerical simulations show that the QRO-GA yields better results than benchmark methods and it is highly efficient, with the convergence speed significantly increasing with the total qubit allocation. Convergence is achieved in as few as 5 iterations for higher qubit allocation. Moreover, the results reveal a critical U-shaped tradeoff, proving that an optimal latency distribution within a strict $80\mu$s transmission window is strictly required to maintain HRLLC reliability. In addition, we find that the QRO-GA successfully optimizes the 2-D UAV positioning to minimize total decoding error. Finally, it balances consumed and harvested power to achieve net-zero power UAVs system.

arXiv comment5 pages. Published in IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. This work was supported by the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) under Grant 368613