T-Mobile and The Drone Racing League have launched a 5G-enabled drone. The drone, which can live stream directly to the Internet, will have its first demonstration at the Field of Dreams Game August 12 in Dyersville, IA.
T-Mobile is sponsor of the game, which will be held at the site of the iconic movie, between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees. The game is being presented by Geico. Fans will be able to view high definition behind-the scenes views.
More broadly, the drone will be used throughout the Drone Racing League’s 2021-22 season. The drone has a dual first-person view (FPV) and HD streaming camera system, a 5s lip battery setup for extended flight time and more than 2,400g of thrust. This enables it to record “incredible content” through mile-long courses while flying at 60 miles per hour, T-Mobile said.
Currently, DRL pilots use analog radio for lower latency. This sacrifices image crispness in their goggles. The next phase will enable the 5G module to connect the drone’s command and control functions to enable 5G control. The speed, capacity and low latency of 5G will enhance pilots’ ability to control the drone, T-Mobile says.
“Drones are one of the most compelling use cases for 5G and we’re working towards a future where all drones will eventually be 5G-connected – that’s why we’ve teamed up with DRL, to fuel this innovation,” T-Mobile President of Technology Neville Ray said in a press release about the 5G drone. “With the power of T-Mobile’s 5G network, we’re empowering innovators to completely reimagine virtually every industry and customer experience – from sports entertainment to disaster recovery, to parcel delivery and beyond.”
T-Mobile has been exploring a range of 5G applications. In February, the company launched the 5G Connected Future incubator with the Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The incubator features a 25,000 square foot innovation center and a three-mile autonomous vehicle test track. The facility is used to develop autonomous vehicles, robotics, industrial drone applications and other technologies that can contribute to the overall development of drones and the applications they support.
