HYPER-Fi
The Challenge
Name:
Reliable high-bandwidth communication for off-board control of drones
Domain:
Telecommunications, Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), control systems, network protocol
Challenge proposer:
Objectives:
The primary objectives of this challenge are:
- To develop and demonstrate a wireless communication system that can provide high-bandwidth and low-latency links for the offboard control of drones;
- To ensure the reliability and robustness of the communication system under various environmental conditions and operational scenarios, including barriers and high interference environments (e.g. through multiple levels of at least 2cm thick steel and during demonstrations with a large number of connected devices around);
- To optimize the integration of this communication system with existing drone control and navigation systems to enhance their performance;
The Solution
Name:
HYPER-Fi – High Performance Wi-Fi in Harsh Mobile Dynamic Environments
Description:
HYPER‑Fi delivers a lightweight, modular communication module for real‑time UAV control, purpose‑engineered for harsh, mobile, and metallic environments. The design combines Wi‑Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) PHY capabilities with optimised RF front‑end hardware and protocol‑level enhancements to produce stable, low‑latency, gigabit‑class.
Core technical Elements:
- Wi‑Fi Generation 7 multi‑link operation, wider channel aggregation and advanced MCS enable theoretical PHY throughput up to 11 Gbit;
- Practical aggregated data rates target 2–4 Gbit/s under ideal conditions and sustain ≥1 Gbit/s in high‑interference, multipath scenarios;
- Low latency is achieved through shortened TXOPs, multi‑link scheduling and protocol tuning across the TCP/IP stack;
- 4×4 MIMO and circular polarisation: a compact 4×4 MIMO radio combined with circularly‑polarised, wideband antennas reduces sensitivity to orientation and multipath fading in confined metallic spaces, simplifies polarisation alignment for rotating platforms, and lowers DSP burden by reducing delay spread;
- Lightweight, camera‑ready module: form‑factor and power budget are optimised for small to medium UAVs; mechanical and electrical interfaces allow optional direct integration with camera payloads (power, sync, and data lanes) to enable native HD/4K video offload and edge inference pipelines.
System Software and adaptability:
The software stack implements adaptive link selection, per‑flow QoS prioritisation, and congestion‑aware transport that favour control/telemetry over bulk payload.
An intelligent controller manages multi‑link bonding, channel hopping and transmit power to maintain target KPIs (latency, packet loss, throughput). The stack exposes APIs for ground control systems and standard C2 nodes via TCP/IP and secure tunnels.
Impact:
HYPER‑Fi proves that a carefully engineered Wi‑Fi 7 solution, paired with circularly‑polarised MIMO antennas and environment‑aware software, can provide resilient, high‑capacity UAV links in the most demanding inspection scenarios, enabling reliable off‑board control and real‑time data extraction for AUTOASSESS use cases.
Latency Expectations and Global Connectivity Extension:
The system is engineered to achieve ultra‑low end‑to‑end latency in the range of 5–15 ms, not exceeding 30 ms even under challenging propagation conditions. In addition to direct drone communication, HYPER‑Fi introduces an “internetisation” layer that enables remote operation of UAVs through TCP/IP networking. This architecture allows the operator to control the drone from various dislocated environments—whether inside a ship (ballast tanks), on deck (crew areas), near the vessel (mobile C2 vehicle or field office), or from any remote location worldwide—maintaining seamless command, telemetry, and data exchange regardless of distance.
The Solution Provider
Stratowave Connect (Zagreb, Croatia) is a fast-evolving startup developing next-generation hybrid-powered multirotor systems that merge advanced communication and hybrid propulsion technologies. With deep expertise in high-bandwidth Wi-Fi connectivity and hybrid power propulsion systems for multirotor aircraft, the company designs multirotor UAV platforms capable of over 10 hours of continuous flight and long-range gigabit wireless data links, redefining performance, reliability, and endurance in modern aerial operations.
