AoI-Driven Hierarchical Learning for Cooperative Resource Sharing in Multi-Operator UAV Networks

Abstract

Uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted networks provide a versatile paradigm for on-demand connectivity. However, in multi-operator aerial networks (MOANs), the joint optimization of cooperative resource sharing and 3D trajectory control to maintain information freshness is a complex combinatorial problem, which can be shown to be NP-hard. To address this computational complexity, we propose an age of information (AoI)-driven hierarchical deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework. Specifically, a Dueling Double Deep Q-Network (D3QN) architecture is deployed at both the operator and UAV decision layers to mitigate overestimation bias and enhance stability in high-dimensional state spaces. To improve system resilience, we introduce an AoI- and load-aware outage compensation mechanism that prioritizes users based on instantaneous transmission demands and temporal freshness. Furthermore, a normalized load exchange balance metric is incorporated to regulate cooperative behavior and ensure resource fairness across operators. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical D3QN significantly outperforms conventional DRL, non-cooperative, and cooperative benchmarks, reducing the average AoI by up to 56.1% under severe congestion while ensuring superior inter-operator fairness and outage mitigation.