Drone delivery of goods and critical services via mobile networks is a step closer following successful testing by Vodafone and Ericsson. The proof of concept trial, carried out this month in Germany, proved how safe and secure flight path corridors can be established within network coverage.
The testing at Vodafone’s innovation centre in Aldenhoven, Germany, used network traffic data to ensure that drone paths avoided areas of poorer network coverage or heavily loaded cells. By doing so the drone is guaranteed connectivity from a departure point to destination. It allows drone operators to use coverage maps to plan a secure and reliable connection path between the drone and the control centre.
Non-mobile network drone range is limited to line of sight operation. Using mobile networks for drone delivery will significantly expand the flying or delivery range, including beyond line of sight use. This creates innovation potential across a range of delivery services, including emergency health care provision. Drone use cases are also being pursued in utility, industry and mobile network infrastructure monitoring, as well as in an emergency or natural disaster response.
