Why Drones and Robots Need Mesh Networking (and What’s Next)

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Why Drones and Robots Need Mesh Networking (and What’s Next)
Drones and robots are no longer isolated gadgets — they are becoming connected swarms that need to share data, make decisions, and stay online in real time.

But here’s the challenge:

Traditional WiFi setups (AP + client) break down in dynamic, mobile environments.
Cellular coverage isn’t always available (think: disaster zones, warehouses, remote areas).
Robots and drones can’t afford dropped connections — whether they’re flying in formation or delivering goods.
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This is where Mesh networking comes in.
It’s self-healing, self-configuring, and scalable — perfect for fleets of autonomous machines.

Why it matters
🚁 Drones: Formations, search-and-rescue, beyond-line-of-sight missions.
🤖 Robots: Warehouses, patrol security, collaborative swarm systems.
In all these cases, Mesh ensures resilient, low-latency communication — even when nodes move, fail, or multiply.

What’s next
Future trends point to WiFi 7 with Multi-Link Operation (MLO), integration with 6G, and edge AI. That means larger swarms, smarter decisions, and industrial-grade reliability.

🔗 I recently published a full breakdown — including technical aspects (routing protocols, frequency bands, security) and real-world use cases — in a detailed LinkedIn article.

👉 Check out the full article here:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mesh-networking-solutions-drones-robots-lily-li-xnznc