When unexpected network outages occur, a reliable backup system is crucial to minimize disruptions. A Progressive Drone System utilizing radio-over-fiber technology can swiftly reestablish cell connectivity, ensuring continuity of critical communications during emergencies.
What drones could learn from the Wright brothers’ perseverance?
In 1891, Orville and Wilbur Wright made a pact with each other: they would spend no more than $5,000 on their flying machine experiments. Little did they know that this modest goal would ultimately lead to them successfully flying the world’s first powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903? McNabb
Japanese industrial conglomerate SoftBank Corp. Recently, the company has successfully deployed a tethered drone system to support flood restoration efforts in Monzencho, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, effective September 30, 2024, as part of a comprehensive initiative to restore telecommunications infrastructure.
First unveiled in 2022, SoftBank’s tethered drone system comprises a base station (mother unit), situated at ground level, and a baby unit attached to the aerial platform. The communication between the parent unit and baby unit takes place via high-speed fiber optic cables, leveraging Radio over Fiber (RoF) technology.
The parent unit connects to cellular networks via satellite television communications, thereby enabling the rapid establishment of a temporary service area unaffected by damage to ground-based infrastructure such as base stations. This portable solution supports up to four days’ use and works seamlessly with both 3G and LTE networks (operating within the 2.1GHz frequency band), offering a maximum download speed of 150 Mbps.
The press release announcing SoftBank’s tether drone innovation declared: “Ultimately, this technology will be used by SoftBank, allowing for rapid deployment within 30 minutes of arriving on-site, ideal for short-term use. This complements the ‘tethered balloon wireless relay system’, already deployed at major nationwide facilities, suitable for long-term use exceeding one month, enabling swift recovery from natural disasters and reliable communication services, thereby realizing a ‘society connected anytime, anywhere’.”
Drones equipped with baby Wi-Fi repeater modules are primarily designed for autonomous flight, but to ensure flexibility in challenging deployment scenarios, they can utilize the “Cell Drone Flight Management System” jointly developed by SoftBank and the Tokyo Institute of Technology. This system enables manual operation beyond visual line of sight from a remote location through cellular networks. The operation and monitoring of Wi-Fi repeater devices can be controlled and managed remotely using a cellular device, ensuring seamless connectivity and real-time updates.
SoftBank successfully implemented a wireless energy transmission system utilizing drones as relays, having obtained necessary approvals from regulatory bodies and collaborated with local authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture.
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Miriam McNabb serves as both Editor-in-Chief at DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a company specializing in the drone industry, with a keen interest in monitoring the growth of this sector and the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding it. With a prolific career spanning thousands of articles, Miriam has established herself as a renowned authority in the field of business drones, delivering expert insights to audiences worldwide through her esteemed speaking engagements. With a degree from the University of Chicago and more than two decades of experience in high-tech sales and marketing for emerging technologies, Miriam boasts an impressive educational background and extensive professional track record.
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