Development of Adaptive Inter-Network Handover Scheme for Flights of UAVs over People beyond Visual Line of Sight

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a “UAV flight support communication system” that enables flights of UAVs over people beyond visual line of sight. After that, we will report the research results of the adaptive inter-network handover system applied to the proposed system. In conventional communication systems for UAVs, it is common for the pilot and UAV to communicate directly with each other via a single wireless line. Therefore, when operating a UAV using such a communication system, the UAV’s flight range is limited to short distances that allow good wireless communication. In addition, because of the dependence on a single radio communication system, it is difficult to respond to changes in the radio wave environment, making it necessary to improve the reliability of wireless communication for safe UAV operation. This research aims to solve these problems. By using multiple wireless networks simultaneously (multi-route transmission) and performing handover control based on the Make-before-Break procedure, the developed wireless communication system can realize a highly reliable wireless connection between UAVs and ground control stations over a wide area.