Parrot has introduced what it claims is the first drone that will use 4G as the main data link between the drone and the operator.
Typically, drones communicate with an operator via radio signals from the remote control to tell the drone what to do. While this is the standard way drones operate, companies and researchers have been experimenting with other types of connectivity including cellular, Bluetooth and other wireless protocols.
Parrot said the Anafi AI drone using 4G connections can allow the unmanned aerial system (UAS) to perform beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights and can stay connected even behind obstacles.
The 4G link between the drone and the user’s phone is encrypted with an embedded secure element in the drone and the Skycontroller 4. This secure element protects both the integrity of the software and privacy of data transferred.
The drone also includes an obstacle-avoidance system that detects obstacles in all directions using stereo cameras to sense objects and automatically avoid them. The Anafi AI also includes:
- A 48-megapixel main camera
- 4K 60 fps/HDR10 camera
- A software development kit (SDK) for users to execute custom code
The SDK gives access to all flight sensors such as avoidance sensors, occupancy grid and internet access.
