RANGE-5G project aims to develop a swarm of advanced 5G-compatible drones and/or rovers that act as aerial relays to improve network access in areas with limited infrastructure, especially during natural disasters or emergencies. These autonomous vehicles form a mesh network to extend 5G coverage to remote or damaged areas, ensuring reliable, secure communication. By integrating intelligent network technologies and potentially using Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), they support autonomous systems, infrastructure monitoring, and adapt to dynamic environments. These drones can also scan and sense the environment via RFID wireless sensors and on-board cameras.
Background
Current emergency monitoring solutions face several critical limitations that hinder their effectiveness in complex and high-risk scenarios. 5G connectivity addresses these limitations: (i) cellular or Wi-Fi networks often fail in disaster-stricken areas, delaying data transmission and reducing situational awareness; (ii) fixed sensor networks require high costs for deployment and maintenance, lack mobility, and can be damaged in emergencies, making real-time monitoring unreliable. RFID technology mounted on a moving, autonomous vehicle addresses these other limitations: (i) handheld RFID readers require responders to be physically present on the scene, slowing operations and exposing them to hazardous environments; (ii) conventional RFID systems require quite-close proximity to sensor nodes, limiting coverage and making large-scale monitoring ineffective.
Our Role
Within the RANGE-5G project, RADIO6ENSE is responsible for developing and testing a functional proof-of-concept featuring a RAIN RFID reader mounted on UAV/UGV vehicles. The goal is to collect data from distributed passive RFID sensor nodes and transmit it via 5G. RADIO6ENSE focuses on the on-board system, selecting, integrating, and configuring a compact RAIN RFID reader capable of both communicating with RFID sensors and interfacing with a 5G IoT gateway. Key activities include: (i) Selecting and procuring COTS hardware compatible with UAV/UGV standards in terms of size, weight, and power (SWaP). (ii) Mechanical and electrical integration of the RFID system onto the vehicle, including antenna placement, power sourcing, and RF shielding. (iii) Software development for sensor data handling, on-edge pre-processing, and real-time streaming to the 5G gateway. (iv) Experimental testing in realistic flight and ground scenarios to validate data collection and 5G transmission under operational conditions.
Final Goals
- Develop a swarm of 5G-enabled drones and rovers to act as mobile aerial and ground relays in areas with limited or damaged network infrastructure.
- AExtend 5G coverage via autonomous mesh networking, especially in disaster or emergency scenarios (e.g., earthquakes, floods, wildfires).
- Enable real-time, secure, and reliable communication for critical operations and remote monitoring in dynamic environments.
- Integrate intelligent technologies, including Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), RFID sensing, and onboard cameras, to enhance data collection and situational awareness.
- Leverage mobile RFID-based sensing to collect environmental data without requiring responders to be physically present in hazardous areas.
Partner
Wave Up S.r.l. (Siena, Italy)
Common Net S.r.l. (Roma, Italy)
Spintel S.r.l. (Rende, Italy)
GunPowder S.r.l. (L’Aquila, Italy)
AerialClick, Massari S.r.l.s. (Brindisi, Italy)
dotX Automation S.r.l. (Roma, Italy)