AT&T’s All-Weather Drone Takes Off In Time For Hurricane Sea…

Telecommunications big AT&T has been utilizing drones to offer connectivity to areas affected by pure disasters. Most not too long ago this occurred late final yr in Puerto Rico, the place AT&T’s Flying COWs (Cell on Wings) have been deployed to reconnect residents after the hurricane, offering wi-fi connectivity to prospects in space of as much as 40-square miles.

A latest launch from AT&T reveals how the preliminary COW has moved on. What was earlier than a miniature helicopter has now change into an octocopter able to working in even the harshest circumstances.

The new Flying COW can, in line with AT&T, “see through obstacles, fly through rain, operate in extreme temperatures and communicate in areas without infrastructure.”

The drone took its first flight final week in Bedminster, New Jersey. AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) Team is looking it “The Extreme-Weather Drone.” Catchy.

Rugged connectivity and first responder assist

Compared to the unique, AT&T say this new Flying COW is a “weather-hardened version with beefed up hardware, rugged features and enhanced capabilities”. The result’s a drone that’s geared up for a extra strong position in excessive environments, one that may deal with the circumstances it’s deployed to mitigate.

AT&T says the Extreme Weather Drone can stand up to a tropical storm with heavy rain and wind gusts as much as 50 mph. It can be in a position to fly in snow and excessive temperatures, starting from under freezing to ‘sweltering’. It’s armed with a thermal imaging payload, so the drone can see by means of smoke, tree cowl, and different obstacles.

This is attention-grabbing. It signifies that AT&T’s drone is an effort to be a one-drone-fits-all sort answer for first responders. On the one hand it could possibly present connectivity for groups on the bottom and cell protection for emergency groups. But on the opposite it could possibly play a extra energetic position, supporting search and rescue groups utilizing thermal imaging.

Between its sturdiness and imaging capabilities, the makes use of of our all-weather drone are limitless for hearth, police and search and rescue. And we’re thrilled to offer this life-saving know-how for them.” – AT&T

Read extra: AT&T’s Flying COW Provides Puerto Rico with Critical Communications

“As hurricane season quickly approaches, we monitor the high winds, high waters and other catastrophic events,” wrote AT&T’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Director, Art Pregler.

“This year we’ll be especially well prepared with this innovative new tool in our arsenal. We’ll have our new all-weather Flying COW ready to deploy when and where it’s needed. Not just to restore our critical connections, but also to help first responders on their mission to save lives and restore communities.”