Evaluating use of ARQ strategies in communication protocols for search and rescue

Search and Rescue (SAR) operations often occur in remote and challenging environments where conventional communication infrastructures are unavailable or unreliable. Effective communication is crucial for mission success. Low-power wide area network (LPWAN) protocols, particularly the LORA (Long Range) protocol, have gained traction due to their low power consumption and extended range. However, LORA's low reliability presents significant challenges in the time-sensitive context of SAR operations, necessitating effective communication strategies. This paper examines the reliability of communication protocols in real scenarios, focusing on Stop & Wait (S&W) and Selective Repeat (SR) Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) protocols. It evaluates their suitability by addressing operational constraints such as geographic barriers, time sensitivity, and simplicity of implementation. Key contributions include investigating the current literature, a real implementation of the ARQ algorithm, and a comparative analysis of these protocols under real-world conditions. Furthermore, the study presents a real-world implementation of ARQ mechanisms and evaluates their operational trade-offs in SAR scenarios, considering both computational constraints and deployment feasibility.