In last article names 5G and UAV Opportunities and challenges, We have discussed the connection between 5G can UAV. But in real world application, what are the specific aspects that 5G can bring to UAV? This article will try to explain from three points, they are bandwidth, latency and interference coordination.

Here is the content list:

1. Pains of UAV industry

2. Three aspects that 5G can improve

    2.1 Higher bandwidth

    2.2 Lower latency

    2.3 Interference coordination

3. Summary

1. Pains of UAV industry

At present, the pains of the UAV industry can be listed as follows. Firstly, to solve the Security problems is always difficult. Secondly, the technology development hits a bottleneck. Thirdly, lacking of scientific research and legal supervision.

The factors mentioned above limit the development of UAV industry, while network plays a key role behind them.

2. Three aspects that 5G can improve

At present, the application of 4G communication technology to UAV has certain defects in terms of bandwidth, delay and interference coordination.While 5G technology can improve drone’s performance by perfecting the three aspects.

2.1 Higher bandwidth

Because of the higher communication frequency, 5G has achieved higher bandwidth and can transmit more wireless data. This will help ensure the quality of HD video and enable real-time analysis and sharing of information.
In addition, higher bandwidth is also provided a technically feasible conditions for solving the problem of unification of drone links.

2.2 Lower latency

The current three links of the drone, one is the real-time control link, namely the remote control. Its amount of data is very small, but the real-time requirements are extremely high.

Second one is the remote telemetry data link,namely the digital transmission, the data volume is small, but requires two-way transmission, and also need to ensure the quality and distance.

The third one is the video link, the bandwidth requires high to ensure video quality and delay.

Application of 5G technology can be helpful to schedule according to different service delay requirements, and the pre-pilot, mini-slot, flexible frame structure, and uplink schedule-free design are implemented to achieve low-latency transmission. For data services, self-contained sub-frame structures, transmissions, and feedback can be used in one time slot, which can greatly reduce time.

2.3 Interference coordination

5G can be used to lay out large-scale antennas with narrow beam alignment for service users, and then inter-cell or inter-cell interference. Coordinated transmission can also be used to coordinate time, frequency, space, code, and power resources coordination. Divided bandwidth access allows different ground and space networks to reduce interference.

3. Summary

The 5G application will open up new horizons for drone scene applications, make the performance of drones more stable and reliable in the application scenario.