Airborne base stations enable life-saving communications

Rapidly re-establishing communication services after natural disasters is vital for first responders.

Natural disasters can occur all over the world and restoring communications is essential for first responders to support the time-critical needs of victims and reinstating the supply of essential services such as drinking water, food and electricity.

A Japanese engineering company, Fukaden Corporation, is enabling this humanitarian effort by providing power for mobile communication base stations that are designed into their high-powered tethered drones. These lightweight, portable drones can be deployed by first responders to deliver near-instant communication capabilities once onsite. This provides first responders the support they need to make decisions and communicate swiftly.

In collaboration with major telecommunications carriers in Japan, Fukaden has conducted demonstration tests of its Power Control BOX II Main Power Supply Unit, which delivers power via a tether to the drone. It enables 1kW of power to be delivered up to 150 meters. Also, power can be scaled easily by using units in parallel to triple the power to 3kW, which provides cellular service to a 10km diameter.

For more information see the original Press Release.