Access

Wireless Networks

Research Center

(Yokosuka, Kanagawa)

Radio Communication Technologies for Safety Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Command Hopper Drone Mapper ®

＞＞ Command Hopper/ Drone Mapper

Command Hopper

The drone research team is researching wireless systems specialized in communications with robots and drones that are active in disaster sites and in the mountains.

It is important for communication with the robot to be "not cut off as much as possible" and "to keep the transmission delay time (the time from when a person sends a command until the robot receives the command) within a certain value". We are researching and developing systems that communicate with a completely different mechanism from the communication methods such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth used to connect PC peripheral devices.

Technical Description

Command Hopper

When controlling and monitoring robots and drones, 2.4GHz band wireless system is often adopted because of cost and device availability. However, there are many issues when using 2.4GHz wireless for remote control of robots and drones due to problems of radio range and interference.

In this research, we combine two frequencies, the 920 MHz band and the 169 MHz band, and adopt time division multiplexing and multi-hop technology for the communication system. This system has a trade-off relationship between transmission delay time and communication speed, and can be customized according to the requirements of the robot mission.

Glossary

920MHz band

This is a specified low power radio frequency band for telemeters, tele-controls, and data transmission, and it can be used without a license if the radio facility has obtained the technical standard conformity certification by TELEC.

169MHz band

One of the "unmanned mobile image transmission systems" allocated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2016. One main feature of this band is the radio wave coverage is wider than 2.4GHz band or 920MHz band.

Members

MATSUDA Takashi
MIURA Ryu
Koshikawa Miho

Publications

NICT Press Releases： We succeeded Japan's first drone control using high reachability new frequency.

Standardization Activities

Radio equipment for 920MHz band telemeter, tele-control and data transmission
ARIB STD-T108

News & Information

We participated with Team ArduPlot-JAPAN at Japan Innovation Challenge 2019 (October 8-11, 2019).

Drone Mapper ®

In this study, in order to realize safe operation in an environment where multiple flying objects including drones (small unmanned aerial vehicles) exist, we are conducting research and development on flying object information sharing system called "Drone Mapper ®", which can share the position, altitude and identification information of each flying object obtained via wireless technologies like GPS, through direct communication among drones. By using the "Drone Mapper ®" system, the flying objects can automatically perform flight control so that they can automatically avoid approaching each other or follow other flying objects without the manual control of the pilot.

Technical Description

Drone Mapper ®

The location information sharing system called "Drone Mapper ®" is a communication system between aircrafts using the 920MHz wireless band.

We are conducting experiments with the aim for applying our system in future drone operation management systems, If there is no obstacle object, we have confirmed that it is possible to grasp the mutual flight position and identification number of each aircraft every second over a distance of about 9km.

The developed prototype uses the 920MHz band (transmission power 20mW) that does not require any license, and can accommodate about 30 to 50 devices within the radio coverage range.