Next Gen Drone Ops

WHITE PAPER

Connecting Drones to

the Verizon Network

WHITE PAPER

1 Blue Research, 2018 Industry Report: The State of Drones in Big Business, Skyward, 2018. https://skyward.io/resources/drones-in-big-business-the-state-of-drones-at-50m/

WHITE PAPER

Next Gen Drone Ops: Connecting Drones to the Verizon Network

Connecting drones like the Parrot ANAFI

AI to wireless networks can transform

drone operations from a simple point-

to-point solution to one that is ready

to adapt to tomorrow’s technology

and regulatory advances, while still

producing today’s deliverables and ROI

with stable command and control.

In this paper, you’ll learn about what the

implications of connecting a drone to a

regulated cellular network really mean,

why they matter – both to existing

operations and the future growth and

development of enterprise-level drone

adoption – some things to consider

about connected drones, and what this

connectivity can enable.

While drones are adding tremendous value to

enterprise operations across a wide range of

industries, they are nowhere near realizing their

full potential. In 2018, only 10% of major enterprises

in the U.S. were using drones1 — and almost none

of them were connected to a cellular network. At

Skyward and Verizon, we’re working to change that.

�

✓✓

The vast majority of drone

operations conducted

today use an unlicensed

radio frequency link.

To understand the value of connected

drone operations today and in the

future, let’s understand how drones

are most commonly communicating as

things stand today. The vast majority

of drone operations being conducted

today use an unlicensed radio frequency

(RF) link to send control commands

from the operator’s controller on the

ground to the drone, and to send video,

telemetry, and aircraft health data from

the drone back to the controller.

These control links are typically in the

2.4GHz and 5.8GHz wavebands – the same

wavebands as Wi-Fi routers, garage

door openers, wireless phones, and

lots of other devices.

Why Connect a Drone to a Cellular Network?

N AT U R A L O B S T R U C T I O N

�

✓✓Clear Line of Sight

Obstructed Line of site

WHITE PAPER

There are significant drawbacks to using unlicensed radio frequency technology

for these communications links:

WHITE PAPER

Reliability: because unlicensed RF spectrum can be

used by anyone and by many different technologies,

unlicensed RF links can be disrupted by other devices of

the spectrum via interference.

Performance: unlicensed RF solutions that do not incorporate

other communications link solutions such as satellite or cellular

communications are limited to the line of site range between

the antenna on the drone and the antenna on the ground. This

means that the drone must be within line of sight of a ground

antenna, which is commonly placed within line of sight of the

pilot, limiting the range of drone flights significantly.

L I N E O F S I G H T

WHITE PAPER

These factors make the stability of the

RF link impossible to predict.

Fitting the controller with a connected

device like a smartphone or tablet

does not alleviate these issues.

Without a direct 4G LTE connection on

the drone, a connected ground control

station provides limited autonomy,

even if it does enable some data

transfer, like streaming video, and

command and control.

However, this solution is limited in its:

• Range - the drone can still only

connect to the internet when it is

in range of the controller, which is

usually no more than a few miles

within line of sight

• Stability/reliability - the speed

and quality of the data streaming

from the drone will vary greatly

depending on the range and quality

of the proprietary connection with

the controller, and the RF noise in

the area of operations

• Accessibility - this method only

works with the drone’s proprietary

controller

Truly unlocking the capabilities, scalability,

and efficiency of drones requires a

communications link that doesn’t suffer

these limitations. Why? Because a drone

is made up of lots of different subsystems

that rely on the communications link in

order for the drone to be safe, reliable,

and efficient.

These subsystems can include:

Communications: this is how the aircraft

(drone) and the pilot communicate. The

pilot sends commands to the drone and

its payloads; the drone responds and

sends back video and telemetry that tell

the pilot how the other subsystems on

the drone are functioning. Things like

where the drone is, where it’s going, how

much battery (or fuel) is left on board,

and what its payload is doing are all sent

back and forth on this communications

link. Most industrial and prosumer drones

communicate this information over line-of-

sight RF radio links that are susceptible to

interference caused by other signals in

the area.

Payload: this is the component of the

system that collects the data that makes a

drone useful to the operator or business,

such as images, videos, packages, and

sensor data.

WHITE PAPER

On-board computer: this is the

“brains” of the drone, distributing

commands and information between

subsystems, and telling the drone what to

do if communication with the pilot is lost.

Propulsion: these components provide

power to the aircraft for flight, and for

use by the other subsystems. Drones

can be powered by batteries, liquid

fuels, hydrogen cells, or hybrid power

systems.

Flight controller: made up of inertial

measurement units, gyroscopes, and

signal processors, the flight controller

translates commands sent from the

controller or on-board computer to fly,

stabilize, navigate, and land the drone.

Positioning: GPS, GLONASS or other

satellite positioning systems, plus

visual, sonar, or infrared sensors

determine the drone’s location and

help it avoid obstacles.

The communications subsystem – the

part that electronically links the drone

and the operator – is the lynchpin of

them all. If the communications link

fails, the drone is unable to report

video and telemetry back to the pilot,

and the pilot can’t send commands to

the drone.

When the communications link fails,

most drones used for commercial

purposes have failsafe behaviors to keep

the drone flying, and hopefully command

it to return to its takeoff point and land.

While this is a known behavior that has

been accepted as part of the risk of

operating drones, its fallibility makes it

a risk factor that must be accounted for

in pre-flight planning, route execution,

and emergency procedures.

Because of the demonstrated coverage,

reliability, and stability of regulated

cellular networks, connecting the ground

control station to the drone by a cellular

network greatly reduces this risk.

This connection is made by using

technologies that already exist and

have been tested and proven for

reliability.

A drone’s communications subsystem is the lynchpin of safe operations.

WHITE PAPER

Telecommunications companies have

invested years of effort and billions of

dollars building coast-to-coast 4G LTE

networks that connect the wireless

devices we use every day. These

networks bring a high level of reliability

and trust as millions of businesses

and consumers have thoroughly

stress-tested these networks over the

years. We know we can rely on them to

help us communicate, navigate, and live

our lives.

Connected drones are able to tap into

this same network — with its high

reliability and breadth of coverage —

to give a pilot command and control

capabilities that stretch across nearly

the entire country. While today’s

drone ground control stations can stay

connected to their drones for a couple

of miles if the conditions permit, cellular

networks have virtually unlimited

connection potential. Connect a drone

to an LTE network and the limit on how

far it can operate will be based on the

drone’s endurance, not its RF connection.

We know that 5G will help transform

many aspects of society, and we think

that drones will be one of the first tools

to showcase its full potential. That’s good

news! But here’s some even better news:

we don’t need to wait for 5G to connect

drones to the network. Connecting

drones to 4G LTE can dramatically

increase the value they provide today.

At Skyward and Verizon, we want to

make sure our customers can achieve

drone ROI with the technology that’s

available today. We also want to make

sure we innovate with the future in

mind. So, let’s take a look at the state

of connectivity in the skies today with

a view toward tomorrow’s advances.

4G LTE for Drones

C E L L U L A R I N T H E A I R V S . C E L L U L A R O N T H E G R O U N D

Lower Signal Strength More Cell Towers Line of Sight

Whether in phones, cars, or commercial

robots, up until now most practical

uses for cellular connectivity have

been ground-based, and the networks

that support these devices have been

optimized for terrestrial use.

One of the things that makes drones

unique is that they bring the internet of

things (IoT) into the air. But doing this

means we have to ask new questions.

For example, because cell sites are

typically optimized for ground use, is

there enough signal in the sky? With so

much free space and so few obstacles in

the air, is interference an issue?

Skyward and Verizon’s Network team

have conducted extensive testing to

characterize how drones can operate on

these networks. We have captured and

analyzed data concerning how drones

connect to the Verizon wireless network

across multiple geographies; this has

been done using different types of

drones, and at different ranges, including

beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

These flights had the primary goal of

characterizing how the cellular network

propagates at the altitudes drones fly for

the purpose of command and control.

Cellular in the Air

W H Y C E L L U L A R F O R B V L O S ?

Provides an economic and attractive option for BVLOS flights

Widespread and covers a large part of the U.S.

4G LT E

WHITE PAPER

During these flights we looked at

the performance of the cellular link’s

strength, coverage, and reliability.

We also ensured the drone is operating

on the network in a way which does

not degrade the quality of the network

experience for other users, or for the

drone itself.

These studies demonstrated to us that

with longer lines of sight in the air,

encountering fewer obstructions such

as buildings and trees in the way, drones

see more cell towers, and therefore

often experience signal coverage, than

ground-based devices.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network can deliver services to airborne users for

the purpose of command and control of a drone, streaming video, and other

data transfer in low altitude airspace. To serve this emerging market, Verizon

has created Airborne LTE Operations (ALO) – a connectivity plan for connected

drones and other aircraft operating in the National Airspace System (NAS) that

is available today.

2 “Drone Market Outlook in 2021.” Business Insider, 04 February 2021 https://www.businessinsider.com/drone-industry-analysis-market-trends-growth-forecasts

WHITE PAPER

When we think about drones connected

over 4G LTE networks, we’re really talking

about preparing for the tasks enterprises

will be able to accomplish — the processes

that connectivity can enable. While

connectivity won’t make sense for all drone

users, especially individual consumers and

drone hobbyists, corporate enterprises

have the potential to see significant ROI

when they launch successful, scalable,

connected drone fleets.

With proper FAA authorization,

enterprises deploying fleets of drones

connected over cellular can enable myriad

complex operations when operating

within the national airspace, like:

• Flights beyond visual line of sight

• Remote fleet deployments

• Artificial intelligence & fully

automated flights

Flights Beyond Visual Line of Sight

Most current drone use cases can

be streamlined and supercharged

with cellular connectivity. The biggest

opportunities for commercial drone

operations involve flight beyond visual

line of sight, or BVLOS. These operations

have a huge potential impact on a drone

program’s return on investment and

are a major reason why drone-provided

services are poised to become a multi-

billion-dollar market.2

While the technology to control drones

beyond the sight of the pilot already

exists, current regulations in the United

States make it difficult to get permission

to do so. This is largely safety-driven and

takes into account the FAA’s view that

drones are, indeed, aircraft operating in

the National Airspace along with military,

commercial, and general aviation air-

craft. It is the Remote Pilot in Command’s

(RPIC) responsibility to ensure they are

not interfering with crewed aircraft, and

the RPIC can only manually see and avoid

other air traffic if they can see the drone

they’re flying.

Part 107 of title 14 of the Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR) is the Federal Aviation

Administration’s rule for operating small

Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS, also

known as drones) in the United States.

Ready Today. Ready for Tomorrow.

WHITE PAPER

Established in 2016, Part 107 significantly

lowered the barrier for operating with

drones. Before the adoption of Part 107,

anyone wanting to operate drones for

commercial purposes — from lone pilots

to major corporations — had to apply

for permission from the FAA through a

time-consuming and expensive process,

or else operate illegally. Now, businesses

who follow Part 107 can fly drones

without applying for authorizations, and

can do so in compliance with federal law.

Part 107 requires that the drone remain

in the pilot’s visual line of sight at all

times. Current drone operators, including

operators using cellular connectivity for

command and control of the drone, must

seek waivers through FAA’s Drone Zone

or similar methods if their operations

fall beyond the limits of standard Part

107 operations. Successful applicants

for BVLOS waivers have been limited to

the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP)

participants, FAA Certification of Waiver

or Authorization (COA), and Part 135

operations. These routes are typically out

of reach of organizations whose primary

business functions do not include drone

operations, manufacturing, or testing.

While there has been limited approval

by the FAA of BVLOS waiver applications

in the past, Skyward is working with

the FAA and other standards bodies to

create technical standards -- including

cellular communications -- that could be

used to enable BVLOS operations in the

future. This would allow drone operators

and organizations to gain approval

from the FAA to fly BVLOS using cellular

connectivity at scale.

Why is the commercial drone industry so

excited about flying drones BVLOS? Why

does this make such a big difference?

Flights BVLOS open the door to a whole

new world of drone operations. Today,

drone inspections for infrastructure

covering large areas, such as railroads,

electrical transmission lines, or pipelines

have to be broken up into short

segments, with the pilot relocating or

handing off control to another pilot

every few miles. This limitation is keeping

large enterprises from fully realizing

the efficiencies and scale drones can

provide. Contrast that to a connected

drone’s ability to operate safely beyond

visual line of sight, and we can unlock the

drone’s technical ability to inspect that

same infrastructure in a way that is not

limited by its RF connection to a ground

control station.

3 Verizon Deploys Remote Network-Connected Drone During Big Hollow Wildfire,” Skyward, September 23, 2020. 4 Stafford, Bill, “Southern Company Partners with Skyward and Hitec for BVLOS Test Operations,” Skyward, October 2,

2019, https://skyward.io/southern-company-partners-with-skyward-verizon-and-hitec-for-bvlos-test-operations/5 Lincoln, Dave, “How the Verizon Network Enabled Skyward’s True BVLOS Drone Flights,” Skyward, October 15, 2019,

https://skyward.io/how-the-verizon-network-enabled-skywards-true-bvlos-drone-flights/

WHITE PAPER

Making BVLOS flights a reality will enable

improved time efficiencies in hazardous

and emergency scenarios, and more

frequent inspections for better data

collection.3 And with the drone already

connected to the network, the data can

be sent directly to decision makers for

immediate review. That means crews

can get results rapidly and perform

maintenance on the spot.

Infrastructure inspections are just one

opportunity for connected drones.

Also consider:

• Remote delivery — carrying packages

the last mile from delivery trucks,

easily transporting medical supplies

in urban areas, and providing rapid

delivery service to rural areas

• Disaster assessment — giving first

responders a live view of inaccessible

areas after a flood, fire, hurricane, or

other catastrophic event

• Critical Infrastructure and Border

Security – drone-in-a-box solutions

interfaced with video and radar

management systems can provide

real-time threat assessment in

response to alarms, virtually

eliminating false alarms and

improving response effectiveness

While regulatory bodies are still

developing the laws and regulations

that will allow these activities to safely

become an everyday reality, Skyward and

Verizon have been hard at work ensuring

the technology will be ready once the

regulations are in place. Through our

work to characterize Verizon 4G LTE

services in low-altitude airspace, we have

built a strong understanding of service

delivery to airborne vehicles. Plus, we’ve

already been conducting test BVLOS

operations to prove out the necessary

use cases and technologies.4,5

Remote Fleet Deployments

Let’s take it a step further. Instead of

dispatching a crew to the site of a remote

transmission line, what if the drone

was already located onsite? A pilot in

the office could send a command over

the network to launch the drone from

its station, from which it would take off

and begin to fly along the line. The pilot

could control the drone and inspect any

necessary assets without leaving the

office. Upon completion of the mission,

the pilot could return the drone to its

station, where it would recharge and

stand ready for its next mission.

WHITE PAPER

Connecting drones to the network can

enable remote fleet deployments of this

kind. Some drone-in-a-box solutions

are already commercially available.

This represents huge time savings for

crews, with the potential to completely

eliminate some field deployments while

still collecting detailed data. And when

repair crews do need to deploy, they’re

armed with the data ahead of time,

streamlining operations.

Artificial Intelligence and Fully Autonomous Flights

The next logical step in the evolution

of drone operations is a whole fleet of

remotely deployed drones. With base

stations in key locations, a drone is ready

to deploy at a moment’s notice anywhere

in your service area. These drones are

programmed to automatically fly routes

on a schedule with little to no direct

oversight needed. They collect data

and transmit it back to the office,

providing a constant flow of data for

frequent assessment.

Today, regulations require a drone pilot

to operate only one drone at a time.

But in the future, a single pilot could

control dozens of drones. This “one-to-

many” control will be a huge competitive

advantage, and regularly-collected data

can be easily tracked over time for trend

analysis, improving analytics and insight.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a key

role in full automation, enabling drones

to map, track, and analyze data in near

real time. Drones will evolve from just

a flying sensor into an aerial intelligence

platform that can identify structural

defects in infrastructure, assess storm

damage, and find people in search &

rescue scenarios without a human at

the controls. While limited onboard

artificial intelligence is already available

today, technologies like multi-access

edge computing (MEC) can bring

advanced AI capabilities to drones

during flight, producing actionable

results in essentially real time. This

means drones can rapidly provide

intelligent insights that can save lives —

and millions of dollars.

6 “Call Quality Should Continue to be High Priority for Wireless Carriers”, JDPower.com, 26 January 2021 https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2021-us-wireless-network-quality-performance-studies-volume-1

7 Fletcher, Bevin. “Verizon Sweeps RootMetric Awards, but testing continues to show AT&T improvements.” Fiercewire-less.com, 16 July, 2019. https://www.fiercewireless.com/operators/verizon-sweeps-rootmetrics-awards-but-testing-continues-to-show-at-t-improvements

8 “Verizon Managed Security,” Verizon, 2021, https://www.verizon.com/about/our-company/managed-security

Why Use Verizon’s Wireless Network to Connect Drones?

Cellular networks like 4G LTE can

support drones in the same way they

support other IoT devices:

ReliabilityUsing the licensed RF spectrum of

cellular means more to the end user

than just what frequency video and

control signals are being sent and

received on. Verizon gives you access

to the most reliable 4G LTE network

in the United States.6 From phones to

smart home technology and business

equipment, more companies rely

on Verizon’s award-winning network

performance for wireless connectivity

and support.7

SecurityWith digital footprints expanding, the

risk of cyberattacks and data breaches

grows stronger, making organizations

more vulnerable. Since drones are a

disruptive new technology, security is

at the forefront of the conversation.

Verizon helps companies strengthen

cyber resiliency across the enterprise

as an essential part of our network.8

CostCreating a purpose-built nationwide

aerial network for drones would take

an investment of billions of dollars in

communications infrastructure, while

taking years to set up. And that’s not

Connected to Verizon’s wireless network, drones become an aerial

arm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Once connected to the internet,

drones can network with billions of other networked devices, rapidly

exchanging data and getting better intelligence than ever before.

But why use cellular networks to connect them? What advantages

does 4G LTE have over other internet solutions available today?

9 “Best Phone Carrier, Best Wireless, Why Verizon,” Verizon, 2021, https://www.verizon.com/featured/our-network/10 “Wireless Private Network,” Verizon, 2021, https://www.verizon.com/business/products/security/network-cloud-se-

curity/virtual-private-network/wireless-private-network/11 “Private Network Traffic Management,” Verizon, 2021, https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/articles/private-net-

work-traffic-management/

to mention ongoing maintenance

costs and periodic upgrades. However,

Verizon’s wireless network has already

been built out across the nation, and

Verizon maintains that network at peak

performance.

AccessibilityCellular connectivity is a mature

technology, with a wide array of

hardware and equipment already on

the market. Because it is so widely used,

it reduces engineering, certification and

design costs and opens the door to

more third-party opportunities.

This lowers the barrier to entry into the

market for connected devices such as

drones as they tap into a reliable,

well-understood technology.

Global AvailabilityVerizon’s wireless network covers more

than 2.6 million square miles and over

99% of the U.S. population,9 but wireless

connectivity is by no means limited to

the U.S. — it is available around the

globe. This means that a connected

drone can be operated not just in the

U.S., but internationally, with the market

for connected devices spreading to

virtually every country.

EvolutionCellular technology is supported by

global standards bodies, which provide

a level of interoperability for services.

Again, this means that a connected

device designed to operate with

these standards can be expected to

function on an ongoing basis. Wireless

technology isn’t just gradually fading

away — it keeps getting better.

CapacityCellular networks are designed to

reliably serve millions of customers

with high capacity for large amounts of

data and low latency. Cellular networks

have the ability to deliver services for

the efficient delivery of critical functions

at scale, such as command and control

of a drone, while also supporting the

data payload of a drone, such as image

transfer. For example, data prioritization

of command and control messages

can be accomplished through Verizon

Wireless Private Network10 using Private

Network Traffic Management.11

WHITE PAPER

For Drone Manufacturers: Talk to Skyward’s Connectivity &

Devices product team by getting in

touch at Skyward.io/contact. Together

with Skyward and Verizon’s Aviation

Development Centers, this team

develops the technologies, systems,

and standards necessary to help OEMs

produce connected drones.

For Companies with Cellular-ready Drones: For companies who have already

partnered with drone manufacturers

for a connected solution, Verizon is, at

present, the only company to offer an

IoT service plan specifically for aerial

devices through our Airborne LTE

Operations (ALO).12 This plan enables

customers to send command-and-

Skyward and Verizon Can Help You Connect Drones TodayConnected to Verizon’s wireless network, drones become an aerial arm of the

Internet of Things (IoT). Once connected to the internet, drones can network

with billions of other networked devices, rapidly exchanging data and getting

better intelligence than ever before.

But why use cellular networks to connect them? What advantages does 4G LTE

have over other internet solutions available today?

control and payload data over Verizon’s

4G LTE network. If you’re ready to begin

testing connected drones on Verizon’s

network, Skyward is here for you.

For Those Just Looking Into Connected Drones: Visit Skyward’s website for more

information and resources at Skyward.

io. Also keep an eye on the Verizon Open

Development Showcase,13 where we

will display drones which are approved

for connection to the Verizon wireless

network as they become available.

In addition to developing connecting

drones to the network, Skyward offers

an Aviation Management Platform

for managing your drone operations,

professional services to help you set up

an enterprise-grade drone program, and

regulatory advocacy to help develop the

future of the airspace regulations.

12 Stockton, Francesca, “How 5G Connectivity Could Power Tomorrow’s Drone Operations,” Skyward, April 28, 2020 https://skyward.io/how-5g-connectivity-could-power-tomorrows-drone-operations/

13 https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/device-showcase

WHITE PAPER

How Skyward Supports Commercial Drone Programs

Skyward, A Verizon company, supports drone

programs at enterprises and large companies across

the country through:

Aviation Management Platform — a software solution for managing an entire

drone operation workflow

Professional Services — helping

companies build, scale, and innovate their

drone programs

Research & Development — partnering

with the most advanced drone programs to

build tomorrow’s drone use cases

and technologies

Regulatory Advocacy — helping

companies fly in more ways and more places

For more information, visit Skyward.io.

14 “Wireless Private Network Connection,” Verizon, 2021, https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/articles/verizon-wireless-private-network-connections/

15 “Wireless Private Network Factsheet,” Verizon, 2021, https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/factsheets/2016/verizon-wireless-private-network-fact-sheet.pdf

16 https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/content/opendevelopment/English/home.html

For more information about all of the Verizon products and solutions which can be integrated to build a robust drone program, get in touch with us at skyward.io/contact.

WHITE PAPER

Additionally, Verizon’s portfolio of products and

services available today to build a secure, scalable

IoT program also apply to connected drones.

A few solutions of note are described below.

Verizon’s Mobile Private Network gives your company a segregated

private network for your drones.14 It separates your drone data from public

traffic and provides a direct connection back to your internal network.

Access to and from this private network is completely within your control,

and it extends your network to reach everywhere the Verizon Wireless

network does. See the Verizon Wireless Private Network Fact Sheet

to learn more.15

The Verizon Open Development program allows drone manufacturers to

certify their 4G LTE or 5G enabled drones for the Verizon Wireless network

through the ALO device certification process.16