Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz Achieve FCC Certification for Innovative Drone Network

Pioneering 5G-Connected Drone Technology

Nokia, in partnership with Rohde & Schwarz, has achieved a significant milestone with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification of its Nokia Drone Networks in North America.

This development marks a major step forward in the field of Drone Technology, leveraging the power of fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks to revolutionize drone capabilities and applications.

Advancing Drone Technology with 5G

The collaboration between Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz addresses the burgeoning growth of 5G networks, which offer high-speed, low-latency, and extensive capacity. These features are critical in transforming drones from simple remotely controlled devices into sophisticated, autonomous machines capable of performing complex tasks across various sectors.

Nokia Drone Networks: A Comprehensive Solution

Nokia’s innovative drone-in-a-box system integrates 5G connectivity with drone versatility, enhancing aerial data collection and analysis. The end-to-end solution includes:

• Nokia drones equipped with a dual gimbal camera and additional payloads like loudspeakers and sensors.
• A docking station that provides charging, data offloading, and mission management.
• A ground control station operating on edge cloud for planning and controlling drone operations.

Enhanced Safety and Durability

The system incorporates standard safety measures like automatic parachute deployment and is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions. This robustness makes it suitable for critical missions in various industries such as energy, construction, agriculture, mining, public safety, telecommunications, and utilities.

Collaboration for FCC Certification

The FCC certification was achieved through a collaborative effort with Rohde & Schwarz. Nokia utilized the R&S CMX500 radio communication tester for emission testing in the Nokia Bell Labs Global Product and Compliance Laboratory. This process was facilitated by the flexible, web-based R&S CMsquares user interface, ensuring thorough protocol testing.

The Future of 5G Drone Swarms

With FCC certification, Nokia Drone Networks can now commercialize their 4G/5G drone solutions for reliable beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. The 5G connectivity ensures the transmission of high-resolution video and data between drones and ground stations. Furthermore, 5G’s capacity allows for the effective operation of multiple drones in a single network without interference.

The FCC certification of Nokia Drone Networks represents a leap forward in drone technology, powered by the collaboration between Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz. This achievement opens new avenues for the use of drones in various sectors, emphasizing the importance of 5G in shaping the future of autonomous aerial vehicles and their applications. With this advancement, Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz are set to redefine the landscape of drone operations and their integration into everyday tasks.