A Survey Study and Comparison of Drones Communication Systems

Drones have become more popular in recent years and this technology has dramatically advanced. Drones are starting to become essential tools in many operations such as surveillance, delivery, and more. A communication system is an essential challenge in drones that determines the drone’s capabilities of guiding, positioning, controlling, and transmission of information remotely. This paper introduces the current drone Radio Frequency (RF) communication technologies by specifying and explaining their features. These technologies represent IoT devices, Satellites, Global System for Mobile (GSM), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), Remote control, Bluetooth, WiFi, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Furthermore, a comparison of ability in working in various environments is provided between the RF communication systems such as urban areas, remote areas, sea, and high altitude. It is found that each RF communication system is useful for a different scenario. Thus, a drone has to use a combination of RF communication systems in order to be remotely effectively communicated and guided.