A Safe, Open Source, 4G Connected Self-Flying Plane With 1 Hour Flight Time and All Up Weight (AUW) <300 g: Towards a New Class of Internet Enabled UAVs

Abstract

Here, we present an open-source cloud (4G) connected and controlled self-flying airplane based on a secure, encrypted flight stack with all up weight of <300 g as an example of a new class of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The avionics portion (including the flight controller, 4G cellular data modem, and on-board companion Linux computer) weighs only 40 g, which is about 10 times lighter than previous avionics package achieving the same mission: 4G secure encrypted robust self-healing Internet connectivity for video and telemetry, autonomous flight capability without the need for a pilot in local proximity to the UAV, and GPS positioning. With a flight time of 1 h, this represents the lightest, longest flight time 4G UAV ever demonstrated. Enabled by the convergence of advances in multiple hardware and software systems and disciplines, this effectively defines a new class of the UAVs, distinct from larger multirotors for aerial surveys and photography and smaller nano-quadcopters with short flight times and ranges, defined by the characteristics of inherently stable aerodynamic flight in case of hardware failure (such as motor failure), inherently long flight times, inherently long range due to the efficiency of a wing over quadrotor, and Internet connectivity for control from any point on earth to virtually any point on earth.

Demonstration and application of diffusive and ballistic wave propagation for drone-to-ground and drone-to-drone wireless communications

“…Details of the vehicle and the methods are presented in another paper 11 . Briefly, the system is a 600 mm flying wing with an STM32 F4 based bit flight controller running Ardupilot with GPS and autopilot capabilities capable of complete autonomous flight, from takeoff waypoints to landings.…”

“…There have been previous attempts to use UAVs to determine signal coverage. We reviewed all of these in 11 . Briefly, the only other published work which comes close to the depth and breadth of the work presented in this paper is the 2017 study by Qualcomm 21 .…”

“…Most UAVs are several kg or heavier, with flight time limited to under 30 min. We have recently developed a 1 hour flight time UAV with AUW < 300 g 11 . This platform is ideal for the 4G, 5G, and beyond signal mapping missions, since it is quiet, safe, economical, and has a long flight time.…”

A Survey on Cellular-connected UAVs: Design Challenges, Enabling 5G/B5G Innovations, and Experimental Advancements

“…An open-source 4G connected and controlled self-flying UAV is demonstrated in [90], defining a new, light-weight, secure and open-source class of cellular-connected UAV.…”

Detection Algorithm for Cellular Synchronization Signals in Airborne Applications

“…With the existing LTE infrastructure, the majority of non-terrestrial research and testing has been conducted with UAVs at altitudes of 30 to 150 meters and velocities of 30 to 50 km/h [11] [12][13] [14]. At these speeds and low altitudes, many of the challenges in establishing and maintaining synchronization do not manifest fully as compared to those encountered at higher altitudes (e.g.…”