Unsatisfied with simply powering a vast array of devices within our collective pockets, Qualcomm seeks to take to the skies with its newly introduced Snapdragon Flight platform – specifically designed for consumer drones and robotics applications.
The platform’s diverse features drew upon knowledge that would be familiar to enthusiasts who follow mobile hardware developments. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor is powering the board, featuring 4 Krait CPU cores clocked at 2.26 GHz and an Adreno 330 GPU. This compact 58x40mm board integrates Qualcomm’s Fast Charge technology, enabling 4K video capture and supporting dual cameras. It also features dual-band 2×2 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and advanced GNSS location capabilities.
Snapdragon Flight is a technology designed to streamline drone development, reducing costs while offering cutting-edge features like 1080p 60fps video capture and advanced image processing capabilities for seamless laptop integration. Qualcomm is expected to support 4G LTE dongles in the future, enabling drones built on this platform to transmit data, such as images, back to customers over standard LTE networks, potentially allowing for remote management through cellular providers’ networks.
The global industrial drone market is poised for significant growth, expanding from $609 million in 2014 to an estimated $4.8 billion by 2021, providing a lucrative opportunity for Qualcomm’s Flight platform to capitalize on this trend. Snapdragon Flight has entered the market, currently available to select original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with a forecasted deployment in industrial drones’ cabins by the first half of 2016.
