The project, which is being conducted in partnership with Swiss drone company Fotokite, should provide emergency services and public safety teams with better tools to improve their situational awareness.
The Fotokite Sigma system receives 5G network connectivity from its base station on the ground which it can use to transfer real-time data to first responders at the location and local hospital teams via a smart tablet.
Its developers said it takes just two minutes to set up and has very low latency which allows for uninterrupted aerial monitoring. In some emergency situations, time is critical enough that this could help to save lives, Fotokite added. The drone is also capable of operating reliably in harsh weather conditions during the day or night.
Rob Searle, head of 5G at Virgin Media O2, said: “This is an important piece of technology and a further example of how 5G technologies can provide societal benefits. We are relentlessly pursuing new 5G...