Civil Protection
Whether in the event of flooding, an earthquake or other disasters, a reliable, high-performance communications network enables more than just communication between emergency services: Reconnaissance drones can thus survey large-scale damage and transmit high-resolution 2D and 3D maps to the operations centre in real time. Via a satellite connection, rescue services can also use apps that, for example, display available hospital capacity or pre-notify suitable hospitals of incoming patients. The AMADEUS (Airborne reMote observAtion anD rEscUe ActivitieS) research project has developed a mobile broadband solution for disaster and crisis response operations that can be operated from the air independently of existing infrastructure. To achieve this, the research team at Fraunhofer FOKUS miniaturised the necessary 5G technology to such an extent that it can be carried by a heavy-lift drone.
At the closing event at the Otto Lilienthal Research Airfield in Schönhagen, the project consortium – comprising the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau, Fraunhofer FOKUS, the aid organisation CADUS e. V., Roboverse Reply, the Technical University of Berlin and MIT GmbH, demonstrated the system in a realistic operational scenario. Via the 5G network provided by the drone, researchers in a control room operated a robot that can be used, for example, to search for people in hazardous environments. At the same time, a reconnaissance drone transmitted video data in real time, thereby supporting aerial situational awareness.
5G communication network from the air
The 5G box used for AMADEUS is a miniaturised version of the Fraunhofer FOKUS solution Nomadic Node. Weighing just 18 kilograms, it combines all the essential components of a mobile communications network. Its scope and performance have been specifically tailored to the requirements of disaster and rescue operations.&
The system includes a compact computer running the Open5GCore core network software, which enables direct on-site data processing – a crucial advantage in time-critical situations. The computer is connected to a radio cell that provides network coverage. The external antennas can be dynamically aligned during flight to ensure the best possible radio coverage. Additional internet access is provided via a satellite antenna.
TH Wildau has integrated the 5G box into the heavy-lift drone. It also supplies power to the communications infrastructure. To ensure optimal network coverage, the antennas are mounted above the drone’s wings. Even after landing, the drone continues to supply power to the communications box, thereby enabling continuous operation of the network. Roboverse Reply supplemented the solution with software for the intuitive real-time control of robots.
Marc Emmelmann, project manager at Fraunhofer FOKUS, summarises: “The successful final demonstration highlights the potential of rapidly deployable communication networks for civil protection. In future, such systems could help to maintain connectivity between people, robots and drones even when existing infrastructure is no longer available, thereby improving the coordination of rescue operations and the safety of emergency responders.”
Dr Corinna Schäfer from CADUS e. V., an internationally active aid organisation based in Berlin, describes the benefits of the system from the perspective of a rescue worker: “A stable communications network is essential in emergency response: it enables targeted rescue operations by providing a comprehensive picture of the situation and ensures the safety of the response team.”
Further information
The 22-month AMADEUS project was funded by the Federal Agency for Digital Radio for Authorities and Organisations with Security Tasks (BDBOS), under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and coordinated by the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Wildau.
Further information
For further information on the project, please visit: