The Design and Development of a 5G Network Agnostic System for Emergency Smart Ambulance Applications

Many lives are often lost in medical emergencies due to delays in quality treatment. As a result, there is an increased demand for timely and efficient emergency services. The motivation behind this study pertains to the importance of human life and how we can leverage modern technology to preserve lives. This paper details the design and development of a 5G network agnostic system for emergency smart ambulance applications to support and improve emergency healthcare services. The approach adopted includes an examination of existing literature and the incorporation of new integration methods in the development process to produce a robust system. The system is composed of a dynamic network aggregator (DNA) device developed using a Raspberry Pi 5, MTN, and Vodacom network Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards and two high-speed internet dongles. This device probes mobile networks and selects the network with the best connectivity at any time. This is necessary to provide the best quality of service (QOS) in a smart ambulance considering the mobile nature of an ambulance and the fluctuating network conditions. We have further investigated the integration of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity setup into the system as a proof of concept. A review of existing literature shows that the integration of emerging technologies such as LEO, 5G and IoT can mitigate the efficiencies in Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The conclusions of this study identify the potential transformation these systems bring about in reducing emergency response times and improving healthcare delivery. The findings are a notable landmark for further research that calls for continuous investment in the improvement of emergency healthcare systems.