Skywaves and airwaves: the case for risk mitigation with drones

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, continue to be a promising future means of transport of goods and people, and an enabler of applications across industries. With advancements in capabilities, wider availability of hardware and affordable pricing of equipment, UAVs are moving towards early commercial adoption. The mobile industry is increasingly involved in UAVs, particularly with 5G coverage expansion (several high-profile test flights have been completed).

This analysis is the second in a two-part series on changing commercial models for UAVs, underpinned by mobile connectivity and technologies. The first covered emergency-response support. This Spotlight focuses on the application of people density mapping for a variety of situations, including flight control, urban planning and smart traffic systems.