Strengthening Multi-Robot Systems for Search and Rescue: Co-Designing Robotics and Communications Toward 6G

Abstract

This paper presents field-validated Search and Rescue (SAR) use cases that demonstrate how the co-design of mobile robots and communication systems can support an edge–cloud architecture built on 5G Standalone (SA). The main goal is to enable effective cooperation among multiple robots and professional first responders in realistic, infrastructure-challenged environments. Our deployments include Hybrid Wireless Sensor Networks (H-WSNs) for risk and victim detection, smartphones integrated into the Robot Operating System (ROS) as edge devices for mission requests and path planning, real-time Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) offloaded to Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), and Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for casualty evacuation under different navigation modes. These experiments, conducted in collaboration with professional first responders, highlight the need for intelligent network resource management to balance low-latency and high-bandwidth traffic. Network slicing emerges as a key enabler for ensuring that critical emergency services remain available under adverse communication conditions. The paper distills architectural requirements, lessons learned, and open challenges that future 5G-Advanced and 6G technologies must address to strengthen emergency response capabilities.