6G RAISE

Reliable network coverage remains a major challenge in both remote regions and dense urban environments. High-rise buildings block signals, large public events overload infrastructure, and natural disasters can abruptly disrupt critical communication systems. There is therefore a clear need for temporary, rapidly deployable networks capable of delivering resilient connectivity wherever and whenever it is required.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer strong potential to enable flexible and dynamic wireless coverage. However, real-world deployment introduces two core challenges: robotics and communications. In dense, obstacle-rich environments, UAVs must autonomously navigate above buildings while avoiding collisions and minimizing interference. This requires real-time obstacle detection and intelligent positioning algorithms that jointly optimize radio performance and flight safety.

Such algorithms are computationally intensive and cannot always be executed solely onboard the drone. The 6G RAISE project addresses this by exploring distributed, robot-aided edge computing, where processing tasks are dynamically offloaded to nearby UAVs or edge infrastructure. By combining UAV mobility, sensing capabilities, and Beyond-5G/6G communication technologies, the system enables robust, low-latency, and resilient network services.

The project will design and validate a proof-of-concept prototype for intelligent emergency coverage recovery. The system will integrate UAVs with Beyond-5G mobile base stations, far-edge computing, mesh networking, and satellite-assisted communication.

The outcome will be a practical solution for rapidly deployable aerial networks that enhance resilience during emergencies and advance the foundations of 6G-enabled robotic network infrastructures.