A young researcher from the University of Valencia has been awarded first prize in the Transport Research Area (TRA) Visions Young Researcher Awards in Budapest for his research on 5G-enabled uncrewed aerial system (UAS) routes.
With a background in telecommunications and a strong interest in integrating cellular networks into the future of aviation, Denis Andres Maigualema-Quimbita has been exploring the use of already deployed 5G cellular infrastructure as a cost-efficient alternative for the positioning of UAS.
As drones become increasingly integrated into urban environments for applications such as emergency response, deliveries and other autonomous air services, “ensuring absolute positioning reliability is critical for safe operations”, Denis said.
Although UAS traditionally rely on GNSS/GPS, dense urban environments can obstruct and reflect satellite signals, reducing positioning accuracy and increasing vulnerability to spoofing attacks. “By using 5G signals, we can either operate autonomously or fuse data to mitigate these deficiencies”, explained Denis.
The project resulted in an algorithm that integrated 5G and GPS data to enhance location accuracy and dynamically plan the safest and most efficient routes for emergency drones.
The system was designed to balance speed with accuracy, allowing drones to avoid unnecessary manoeuvres while reaching incidents quickly and safely. As Denis said, “this could help emergency services respond faster by enabling drones to bypass road traffic and operate reliably in complex urban environments”.
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Image: Denis Andres Maigualema-Quimbita