EAGER: Aerial Communication Infrastructure for Smart Emergency Response

Abstract:

The objective of this proposal is to exploit an early concept of a flexible, low-cost, and drone-carried broadband long-distance communication infrastructure and investigate its capability for immediate smart-city application in emergency response. Three interconnected tasks include: 1) development of cyber-physical systems (CPS) technology that enables robust long-range drone-to-drone communication infrastructure; 2) practical drone system design and performance evaluation for WiFi provision; and 3) a systematic investigation of its capability to address smart-city emergency response needs, through both analysis and participation in fire-fighting exercises, as a case study. 

In the first few months of the project, we have achieved the following results. 

1. We developed a prototype beta drone-carried Wi-Fi system. The system automatically controls the headings of directional antennae on the drones to ensure the alignment of heading directions. GPS and compass sensors are used for heading control. 

2. We conducted modeling and simulations for the new uncertainty-exploiting heading control scheme and plans to implement it shortly. This heading control scheme uses received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and hence can work even in the absence of GPS signals. 

3. We collaborated with Austin Fire Department and successfully demonstrated the use of the drone-carried Wi-Fi system for emergency response use. In the demonstration scenario, victims were trapped in a chemical-leaky environment. UAVs were dispatched, which provided aerial views of the terrain to the operator of remotely controlled search and rescue robot to quickly locate victims, and more importantly established the communication link in the aerial layer through which control commands to the remotely controlled robot and video captured by the robots were transmitted. The demonstration suggested the capability of the drone-carried Wi-Fi system in improving the effectiveness of search and rescue missions. 

4. We are building a prototype gamma drone which is powered by hybrid energy. The goal is to extend the flight time, which is critical for emergency response operations. 

5. We conducted multiple outreach activities, including the following: 1) Demonstrated the Wi-Fi drone technology at the Hewlett-Packard (HP) “Bring Your Children to Work Day”, June 2015, 2) Demonstrated the Wi-Fi drone technology at 2015 Latina/o and Mexican-American Studies (LMAS) Program Student Conference, April 2015, 3) Led the Smart Emergency Response