Using 5G to bring more than just bits to homes

Abstract

Future drone delivery infrastructure and service for distributing goods to inner city and rural areas, by collaborating with the already existing transportation system, has become an important function in the semi-/full-automation process of home deliveries. This has been exacerbated by the current (and possible future) Covid-19 pandemic. This paper presents a new paradigm for a 5G enabled drone delivery system based on ground-aerial integrated mobilities called TWIN that provide a high-quality communication system for increased drone fleet service capacity. We depict the 5G architecture that supports the dual mobilities and emphasize the strategies to ensure reliable, low latency radio link, high accuracy drone positioning together with location management. The increased link level availability coupled with high accuracy location management, allows for a series of new network applications and support the fast creation of drone delivery services. We envision that logistic services on the TWIN concept will have a high societal and economic impact for both urban and rural areas.