Wi-Fi 6 Aerial Relay Node for Emergency Operations

Reliable and ubiquitous communications, offering high data rates, low latency and supporting large numbers of connected devices, are critical requirements for modern emergency rescue missions. Multiple teams of First Responders, operating at remote areas, on rough terrain or under harsh conditions (e.g. wildfires, earthquakes, flooding etc.) need seamless connectivity to send/receive mission data and organize their operations. This paper, based on the communication platform of RESPOND-A project for supporting First Responders' missions, proposes a communication relay architecture for extending the 5G network, covering network gaps or underserved areas, while still supporting the mission requirements. Preliminary field measurements were also taken for providing a proof-of-concept and evaluating the systems' performance.