Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
Nokia has unveiled Nokia Drone Networks, a drone operations platform that allows ‘first responders and other professionals’ to operate unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAV) over public and private 4G/LTE and 5G phone networks.
Nokia stated that the solution was designed to ‘meet the growing needs of … public safety agencies, smart cities, construction, energy and defence’, and that it was fully certified to meet the safety requirements of the European Union (EU).
The solution comprises specially developed Nokia drones, as well as a docking station, a dual gimbal electo-optic/infrared camera, as well as cloud-based processing utilizing Nokia’s MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) technology.
According to Nokia, the UAVs can be operated remotely to conduct a range of activities, such as search and rescue (SAR) and the assessment of damage in hazardous environments. They can also be ‘programmed … for applications like additional security at large events’. The drones also reportedly offer over 50 minutes of flight time, and are capable of covering distances of over 30km.
The docking station is designed to protect the drone and its payload from ‘external hazards and harsh weather’ while charging the UAV for its next flight.
The platform features a customisable API framework
Used in conjunction with MXIE, data can be ‘collected and processed in real time’, while an open application program interface (API) framework allows agencies and enterprises to ‘onboard pre-integrated Nokia and third-party applications and systems’.
Nokia stated: “Using cellular connectivity technologies also offers higher data rates and lower latency enabling more data to be streamed than over Wi-Fi. Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations with real-time kinetic (RTK) positioning improves situational awareness. Dual modem connectivity allows Nokia drones to simultaneously connect to multiple networks, complying with system redundancy that is commonly required by aviation regulatory bodies.”
Thomas Eder, Head of Embedded Wireless Solutions at Nokia, said: “Our mission is to reshape the industrial UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) market, providing enhanced situational awareness to aid search and rescue, surveillance, and other UAV operations in a wide variety of industries. Nokia Drone Networks has been designed to comply with the remote operation requirements of aviation regulatory bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Administration (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US.
Belgium to have ‘first nationwide drone network’
Nokia also announced that it has been granted a contract by Belgian telecommunications provider Citymesh to supply the technology, with the aim of creating ‘the world’s first nationwide drone network’.
Under the terms of the contract, Nokia will provide 70 ‘Drone-in-a-Box’ units, which will be controlled from five operations centres. The drones will be branded as SENSE by Citymesh, and are intended to ‘gather information in the critical 15-minute period following a call’.
The drones will be on standby 24/7 a day, and will be ‘enough to blanket Belgium with a 5G automated drone grid that informs and speeds resource mobilization in emergency events,’ Nokia explained.
The French government recently published two decrees permitting the nation’s police to use drones for aerial surveillance purposes.
