Whether in the event of flooding, an earthquake, or other disasters: A reliable, high-performance communications network enables more than just communication between emergency responders: reconnaissance drones can use it to survey large-scale damage and transmit high-resolution 2D and 3D maps to the command center in real time. Via a satellite connection, emergency responders can also use apps that, for example, display available hospital capacity or pre-notify suitable hospitals of incoming patients. In this context, the AMADEUS (Airborne reMote observAtion anD rEscUe ActivitieS) research project 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 Fraunhofer FOKUS research team miniaturized the necessary 5G technology to the point where it can be carried by a heavy-lift drone.

At the closing event held at the Otto Lilienthal Research Airfield in Schönhagen, the project consortium, comprising the Technische Hochschule Wildau, Fraunhofer FOKUS, the aid organization CADUS e. V., Roboverse Reply GmbH, the Technische Universität Berlin, and MIT GmbH, demonstrated the system in a realistic operational scenario. Using the 5G network provided by the drone, researchers in a command center operated a robot that can be used, for example, to search for people in hazardous environments. Simultaneously, 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 miniaturized version of the Fraunhofer FOKUS solution Nomadic Node. Weighing just 18 kilograms, it combines all the essential components of a mobile communication network. Its scope and performance were specifically tailored to 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 cellular base station that provides network coverage. The external antennas can be dynamically aligned during flight to ensure the best possible radio coverage. In addition, 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 network operation. Roboverse Reply supplemented the solution with software for intuitive, real-time control of robots.

Marc Emmelmann, project manager at Fraunhofer FOKUS, summarizes: “The successful final demonstration shows the potential of rapidly deployable communication networks for civil protection. In the future, such systems could help 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 first responders.”

Dr. Corinna Schäfer of CADUS e. V., an internationally active aid organization based in Berlin, describes the system’s benefits from a first responder’s perspective: “A stable communications network is essential in emergency response: It enables targeted rescue operations by providing a comprehensive situational overview and ensures the safety of the response team.”

The 22-month AMADEUS project was funded by the Federal Agency for Digital Radio for Authorities and Organizations with Security Tasks (BDBOS), under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and coordinated by the Technische Hochschule Wildau.