UScellular and Ericsson said that they’ve begun 5G testing using drone technology with an eye toward potentially using the drones to inspect wireless towers or the tops of silos.
The initial visual line-of-sight trials were conducted in Beloit, Wisconsin, using a drone that was flown between two of UScellular’s commercial 5G towers. The drone was outfitted with a 5G smartphone and RF measurement equipment designed to capture performance metrics such as signal strength and quality, upload and download speeds and latency at various altitudes.
They used the following spectrum bands: 700 MHz LTE, 1900 MHz LTE, 600 MHz 5G and millimeter wave 5G at 28 GHz, according to a UScellular spokesperson.
The goal of the initial trial was to gather and analyze network connectivity and speed data in the air, compare it to the speeds experienced on the ground and ultimately understand what is required for the future use and success of 5G connected drones, the companies said in a press release.
“Testing our wireless connections at altitude can set the stage for future connectivity of drones in the air, providing command and control capability along with enabling real-time image and data sharing to be easier, faster and safer,” said Narothum Saxena, vice president of technology strategy and architecture at UScellular, in a statement. “We believe that our network can help drones fly in an optimal way if they have connectivity, and with Ericsson’s support, we will continue to drive innovation that can help enhance our customers’ wireless experience.”
One of the use cases they talked about is using drones to inspect wireless towers without climbing them. That model could be extended to other industries, such as a farmer who wants to inspect the top of a barn or silo or a city worker who wants to inspect water towers.
Those kinds of things can be done with drones that don’t use 5G, but they suggested that 5G drones will be able to reach areas beyond the visual line of sight of a pilot and allow footage to be livestreamed over UScellular’s network. That leads to more efficient and cost-effective site inspections and allows for the collection of real-time data and delivery, ensuring the right footage is captured, especially in hard-to-reach areas, the companies said.
“Drone technology offers a wide scope of new opportunities in today’s market. Our testing with UScellular is a huge step for advanced connected drones use cases that will benefit society and businesses,” said Ericsson North America VP Jossie Prochilo in a statement.