Successful demonstration experiment of video transmission using ``5G'' drone at international cycling event ``Cycling Shimanami 2018''

PRODRONE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President and CEO: Masakazu Kono, hereinafter referred to as PRODRONE) is a subsidiary of KDDI Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Makoto Takahashi, hereinafter referred to as KDDI), Nakao Laboratory of the University of Tokyo (Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Professor: Akihiro Nakao, hereinafter referred to as the University of Tokyo), Samsung Electronics (Headquarters: Suwon City, Republic of Korea, in collaboration with Kinam Kim (CEO: Kinam Kim), conducted a demonstration experiment of 4K video transmission from a drone using the next generation mobile communication system "5G" (hereinafter referred to as 5G) at the international cycling event "Cycling Shimanami 2018" (hereinafter referred to as the event) held in Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures on October 28, 2018. This experiment was conducted with the cooperation of the Cycling Shimanami 2018 Executive Committee and was successful.

Overview of this experiment

In this experiment, we used the technology of real-time transmission of 4K video using a 5G drone, which was successfully tested for the first time in Japan in June of this year, to transmit in real time via 5G aerial footage of the starting point taken with a 4K high-definition camera mounted on a drone provided by PRODRONE at Mukaijima Sports Park (hereinafter referred to as the "starting point"), one of the starting points for this tournament. This experiment was conducted as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 5G comprehensive demonstration experiment. In addition, at the Niihama Prefectural Warehouse, one of the goal points for this tournament, the goal video was shot with 4K high-definition cameras installed around the goal point, and was transmitted via 5G and distributed in real time to the KDDI booth inside the venue. In order to support the smooth running of this tournament, we also used a smart drone that can transmit video over KDDI's 4G LTE line, and used the drone to film the running conditions at the Mukojima starting point and transmit the video in real time to the tournament headquarters in Imabari City. PRODORONE is responsible for not only developing and providing the drone for this experiment, but also for flight and camera operation during the event.

Experiment situation

Starting point

Finish point

For details, please see the KDDI announcement materials. https://news.kddi.com/kddi/corporate/newsrelease/2018/10/29/3446.html