Optimizing Tethered HAP Networks Configuration Using Genetic Algorithms

A tethered High altitude platform station (tHAPS) is a network node that operates in the aeronautical layer at an altitude of around 100 to 150 meters, playing a crucial role in providing communication services. It is linked to the ground through a tether. According to ITU recommendations [1], a tHAPS should have a wide coverage area with a radius of approximately 20 km. A network of multiple tHAPS can extend this coverage to serve an entire country. In this article, we discuss the scenario where multiple tHAPS are distributed across an area, each covering a circular region beneath them. We analyze the reliability of such a system and use a modified Genetic Algorithm (GA) to determine the optimal arrangement of tHAPS for a given region. © 2024 IEEE.