Consortium to bring 5G-enabled drone services to remote islands
Image courtesy Skyports
Funded by the UK Space Agency, the Connectivity for Remote Orkney Future Transport (CROFT) project will explore how space technologies can be leveraged to establish 5G-enabled drone deliveries for remote island communities in Orkney, Scotland.
The project brings together Skyports Drone Services (Skyports), Satellite Applications Catapult, Stratospheric Platforms (UK) Limited, Cranfield University and West Midlands 5G. The consortium will explore the feasibility of establishing 5G powered drone deliveries with the view to improving access and connectivity for Orkney’s remote communities.
The focus of the 22-month-long project is the development of Sky5, a 5G-enabled drone service. This solution will allow for the low-latency, high-density communication and coverage that is required by uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). The project will also define the functional and performance requirements needed to develop scalable, 5G drone deliveries in harsh, rural environments.
CROFT will highlight how innovation-led services can bring tangible, positive benefits to remote, isolated communities like those found in Orkney.
Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, said: “The roll-out of 5G presents a huge opportunity for drone operations. With 5G we’re unlocking ever more advanced capabilities, benefitting from rapid data exchange between our remote operations centre and the aircraft. We stay connected to our aircraft at all times throughout our journeys using both satellite connectivity and cellular signals.
This is critical for our Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights, which allow us to reach more people and communities – as we will demonstrate with this project.”
Cranfield University will study the quality-of-service operations for 5G-enabled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), using advanced space technologies to ensure safe and secure last-mile delivery solutions. Experts will investigate how 5G technology can enhance the performance and reliability of UAVs in various operational scenarios, organising workshops to disseminate knowledge and promote the concept of using 5G for air mobility solutions. By advancing the integration of 5G technology in UAV operations, Cranfield University aims to contribute significantly to the development of robust and efficient last-mile delivery systems.
Professor Saba Al-Rubaye, Chair of Telecommunications and Autonomous Systems at Cranfield University and project lead, said: “We’re committed to pioneering research in telecom-enabled UAVs to revolutionise last-mile delivery, focusing on advancements of Air Mobility solutions. Our goal and mission are to create reliable, sustainable and efficient delivery solutions by harnessing cutting-edge space technologies."
Henny Sands, Head of Telecommunications at the UK Space Agency said: “The UK has always been at the forefront of scientific innovation, and we are focused on supporting British companies that are continuing that tradition. As the CROFT project shows, space technologies can help develop services that improve people's lives, in this instance using drones with advanced satellite and 5G connectivity to deliver essential supplies to rural areas, often in challenging conditions.
“We look forward to Skyports' continuing success and its productive contribution to the growth of the UK satellite communications industry.”
The project is funded by the UK Space Agency 'Connecting People' Call, part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Telecoms Space for 5G & 6G Strategic Programme. The programme invited proposals from industry and academia to develop sustainable 5G/6G technologies, products and services that bring benefits beyond the Space Sector.
Scotland is a focus for Skyports’ drone delivery efforts. The company has completed numerous projects across the region since 2020 to test the feasibility of deploying drones for middle- and last-mile logistics. This is the second Orkney-based project for Skyports. It follows the launch of inter-island drone deliveries for the Royal Mail, which the company launched in August 2023.
