In a recent presentation on the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking Innovation Days, Timo Kasurinen from the North European Logistics Institute at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences introduced a paper titled “LTE Mobile Network Technical Feasibility for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle BVLOS Operations in a Rural Test Area.” The paper delves into the potential of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for facilitating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a rural setting.
The study aimed to deal with challenges comparable to aerial coverage, interference elimination, and network latency related to using mobile networks for Command and Control (C2) links in drone operations. Kasurinen’s research focused on a rural test area in South-Eastern Finland, utilizing industrial cellular operators and Elsight’s Halo UAV connectivity system for BVLOS flights.
Throughout the BVLOS flights, the paper showcased the reliability of Elsight‘s Halo OEM Platform, which supports 4 parallel LTE connections using three SIM cards from various network operators. The platform demonstrated stable connections, collecting crucial data on the drone’s location and connection parameters.
Key findings from the study include the effectiveness of LTE networks for implementing low-capacity C2 links, especially with sufficient field strength. The research highlighted the importance of multiple parallel connections in areas with weak LTE coverage, emphasizing the potential of economic cellular networks for BVLOS operations.
The paper concludes that if certain conditions, comparable to ensuring coverage from multiple LTE network operators and using terminals supporting several simultaneous connections, are met, cell phone networks might be widely accepted for low-capacity C2 links in UAV operations.
The research was conducted under the regulatory framework for BVLOS operations in Europe, where special category licenses are required for such operations, and the study goals to contribute to the understanding and acceptance of cell phone networks in UAV operations. The work was supported by Elsight’s Halo connectivity platform and funded by the Academy of Finland and the European Regional Development Fund.
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