Enhancing Unmanned Aerial Systems Data Communication through Mobile Networks

A key factor for effectively operating unmanned aerial systems is ensuring reliable and fast communication between the ground station and the unmanned aircraft vehicle. The choice of communication channel results from specific requirements for data rate and range of the vehicle. Currently, the use of cellular mobile networks is marginal in commercial unmanned systems, although these networks have excellent coverage and harbor enormous potential for communication flows within systems. This study presents the concept of a real-time two-way data link communication between an unmanned aircraft vehicle and a ground station with the implementation of the Micro Air Vehicle Link (MAVLink) open communication protocol, using an experimental setup that includes a Raspberry Pi, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) module, and Pixhawk flight controller. According to the established methodology, the connection speed and robustness of the whole concept were verified. The study’s results demonstrated that using mobile networks can significantly improve the communication between the subsystems of the unmanned aerial system as a whole and provide a solution for more reliable and efficient unmanned flying. This research contributes to the advancement of unmanned aircraft subsystems and their capacity for real-time long-range communication with ground stations, thus enhancing these vehicles’ operational efficiency and safety.