Real-World Deployment of a 5G-Connected Edge-Controlled Aerial Robot in Industrial Subterranean Mines
2026-06-03 • Robotics
Robotics
AI summaryⓘ
The authors tested a flying robot in a real underground mine, controlled remotely using a fast 5G network. The robot’s flight path was planned by a special computer program called a Model Predictive Controller, which ran on a nearby edge server. A human chose the destinations, and the controller helped the robot fly smoothly and avoid obstacles. This study shows how combining 5G and edge computing can help robots work safely and efficiently in challenging places.
5G New Radio (NR)Edge computingModel Predictive Controller (MPC)Autonomous flightKubernetesSubterranean miningAerial robotClosed-loop controlWaypoints
Authors
Achilleas Santi Seisa, Emanuele Pagliari, Gerasimos Damigos, Elias Small, George Nikolakopoulos
Abstract
This article presents the first real-world autonomous flight of a 5G-connected aerial robot controlled by an edge-offloaded controller, and aims to bridge the gap between controlled and factual setups. The robot operates within an active industrial subterranean mine, while the high-level controller is deployed in a nearby Kubernetes-based edge cluster. Communication between the robot and the edge is enabled via a 5G New Radio (NR) Standalone (SA) network. The chosen controller is a Model Predictive Controller (MPC), which generates control actions to allow the robot to navigate seamlessly through the mining environment. A human operator selects waypoints for the aerial robot, and the MPC generates smooth, collision-free paths for autonomous executions. The proposed 5G edge-based closed-loop system is evaluated in a real industrial setting and demonstrates the potential of edge-controlled robotic systems toward time-critical, safe and efficient future deployments.