The FAA has approved the first unmanned aircraft operation of its kind to help restore cellular service in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
The Flying COW (Cell on Wings) drone, developed by AT&T, functions like a cell tower in the sky, restoring voice, data and internet service. It flies up to 200 feet above the ground, covering an area of 40 square miles, and is particularly useful in remote areas, FAA officials noted.
The Pulse Vapor 55 drone, which resembles a miniature helicopter, is fitted with LTE radios and antennas and is tethered to ground-based electronics and power systems.
Because the aircraft exceeded the 55-pound weight limit required to operate under the FAA’s small drone rule, the FAA had to issue a special exemption and an emergency certificate of authorization for AT&T to conduct its mission.
The company is using the drone as a temporary cell service solution while it rebuilds the permanent infrastructure on the island.
This is one approach that works; however, we have developed and are almost ready to release a homeowner based system that can restore comm links and can use topography to stay aloft and be totally grid independent if desired.
Hello Brian what is homeowner based system please replay to my address Tk
I want one also.I live in St Thomas USVI where ATT and other providers have let us down. Just recently we have now sporadically poor coverage for anywhere except in town.
FRANK IN THE USVI: I had the same issue with Verizon in Illinois. They provided a little device they call a “Network Extender” that connects to our high speed Internet. Basically it’s a mini cell tower so calls are made and received through it when we are at home. Very localized solution but at least now we can get/make cell phone calls while at home. Perhaps your provider offers a similar device.
Excellent prognostication, aka second guessing. Drones as we know it are usually powered by a small internal combustion engine, larger ones powered by small engines and huge ones with jet engines. Small hobby and commercial drones use portable rechargeable lithium batteries and this was my first thought until reading your comments. A tethered drone flying in place can be programmed to hover in one spot by gps coordinates for hands free autonomous flight. Tethering might imply a power feed from the ground to recharge an on board battery for continuous flight and if the tether is torn, programmed to land immediately to prevent harm from flying into anyone or anything and causing damage.
Since it’s tethered and at 200′ altitude or less, it’s considered a stationary meteorological tower and requires NO permission from the FAA. FAA only gets involved when free flight is part of the plan or if the “tower” is higher than 200′. The tether provides power and comms up/down from the bird. I’d assume the bulk of the cell processing is done by a ground based unit to keep the airborne weight to a minimum. Having engineered a similar quadrotor based system, the aircraft will have a backup battery for emergency decent in the case of power disruption on the tether.
A balloon would be a better, less energy intensive approach, however that would require helium (expensive and hard to get, especially in storm torn P.R) and a balloon is harder to quickly recover and store in the event of a storm or to change locations for better coverage. Plus, not nearly as sexy as saying you’re using a drone…
Pretty poor article, lots of simple operational details missing.
Being tethered to ground-based electronics and power systems allows it to stay up a long time.
It can stay up for ever as long there is electricity coming to it. now what about another one they say it can go up to “60.000 feet?” i can believe that but i did read it last week from at&t.
Mark and Bradley, I think the drone operates on electricity for a wire to the ground? And, I’m also guessing that it’s programed to fly in one spot?
Thats what i said, will go no place just stay up above a trailer up to 200 feet.
Its tethered. Seems that should make it operate under different rules than a radio controlled one.
Overall I’m not impressed with the FAA’s handling of the whole UAS deal.
If tethered to ground-based electronics and power systems most likely would not
need a pilot and would continue to fly as long a power is supplied to it’s base
It’s tethered, NO pilot required and NO recharge needed, it can stay up indefinitely.
Since it’s wired to the ground, power isn’t an issue. It can stay up all day.
Except in a hurricane 🙁
Wouldn’t a tethered balloon do a better job? It would definitely stay up longer, and wouldn’t need a pilot.
What? Where is the glamour news in tried and true solutions..?!
My thoughts exactly!
I’m surmising that since it is tethered to the ground for power and electronics that no pilot nor refueling will be required.
It would probably be cheaper too.
You can’t keep a balloon in one exact spot like a drone with a gps lock. Even tied to a rope a balloon is going to be blown downrange. I am sure they considered the cheaper options.
If this article was a report rather than just a press release we would know the reasoning for this solution. A pointless “article”.
Cell service 15 minutes at a time?
I’m sure they power it through that fiber optic cable that’s tethering it to the ground. Having lived in Puerto Rico and knowing the topography, that thing will be hard pressed to cover 4 square miles let alone 40. It’s not needed in the cities, it’s needed in the country which is mountainous.
It’s not battery operated. Power from the ground through the tether.