Comparative Analysis of BER Performance in UAV-assisted THz Communication Systems with Different Modulation Schemes

Abstract

—This paper presents a detailed comparison of bit error rate (BER) performance for three modulation schemes—Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), Quadrature Am plitude Modulation (QAM), and Chirp Spread Spectrum Mod ulation (CSSM)—in the context of UAV-assisted terahertz (THz) communication systems. As THz communication gains traction for its potential to support ultra-high data rates, understanding the error performance of various modulation techniques is essential for optimizing system design. This study simulates and analyzes the BER performance of PAM, QAM, and CSSM under various signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, aiming to identify the trade-offs in reliability and efficiency for each scheme. The results indicate that CSSM exhibits superior resilience under noisy and fluctuating conditions, making it the most robust choice for UAV-assisted THz communication. In contrast, QAM performs moderately well at high SNR levels but is less effective in low-SNR environments, while PAM requires high SNR for reliable performance. These findings offer valuable guidance for selecting suitable modulation schemes in THz communication systems, especially for UAV applications.