BDBOS-Funded AMADEUS Project Demonstrates Drone-Based 5G Network for Emergency Response

The successful conclusion of AMADEUS adds to a growing body of work exploring non-terrestrial and temporary network solutions for public safety.

Fraunhofer FOKUS and a consortium of research and industry partners have successfully concluded the AMADEUS project with a final demonstration at Schönhagen Airfield, showcasing a drone-based, self-sufficient 5G broadband network designed to restore critical communications capability when ground infrastructure fails during crisis or disaster situations.

The project was funded by the Bundesanstalt für den Digitalfunk der Behörden und Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben (BDBOS), Germany's federal agency responsible for the GErman critical communications network taht supports public safety organizations with digital (TETRA) radio communications 

The AMADEUS initiative addresses a persistent challenge for emergency services: maintaining reliable broadband connectivity in scenarios where conventional networks are damaged, overloaded, or entirely unavailable. By deploying a 5G network from airborne platforms, the project team demonstrated a solution that extends far beyond basic voice and data communication between responders on the ground.

According to project partners, the airborne broadband network supports a range of mission-critical digital applications, including real-time aerial situational imagery, remote operation of robotic systems in hazardous or inaccessible areas, and internet connectivity linking field operations to external resources such as nearby hospitals. These capabilities are intended to strengthen situational awareness and coordination during the earliest and often most chaotic phases of a disaster response.
The final demonstration, held at Schönhagen Airfield, tested the system in a realistic operational scenario, validating the practical deployment of thedrone-based network under conditions representative of real emergency operations.

The AMADEUS project brought together a multidisciplinary consortium spanning applied research, academia, humanitarian response, and technology integration. Partners included Technische Hochschule Wildau, CADUS e.V. – International Disaster Response, Technische Universität Berlin, Roboverse Reply DE, and MIT GmbH, alongside project lead Fraunhofer FOKUS.

The successful conclusion of AMADEUS adds to a growing body of work exploring non-terrestrial and temporary network solutions for public safety, an area of increasing interest as agencies across Europe seek resilient alternatives to fixed infrastructure for disaster response and mission-critical broadband communications.