Skolkovo and Skoltech Connect Drones to 5G Network

Recent test flights in the urban air mobility zone involved a drone that carried a 5G data transmission and reception system which in the future will be part of the 5G-based digital airspace for drones.

During the development of the missions, the transmission of a video stream and UAV payload data over the 5G network, tracking the coordinates of the drone according to the mobile network data were tested. Altitude and topological characteristics of the airspace with continuous connectivity by 5G networks were also taken.

The resulting mobile network coverage map at different heights is necessary for further research.

Testing confirmed that the use of 5G networks to support UAVs and digital airspace is a promising scenario that creates broad prospects for the development of domestic innovative products.

Since 2020, a pilot zone for fifth-generation mobile communications has been deployed and put into operation on the territory of Skolkovo. More than 100 partners across a wide range of industries have researched promising use cases for 5G to develop disruptive product innovations. The pilot zone was deployed by Skoltech and the Skolkovo Foundation with the support of one of the Russian mobile operators.