World’s First Fully Autonomous Flight of Smart Drone Successful, Utilizes Mobile Communications Network and 3D Map

November 30, 2017

Press Release

NAGOYA-Japan, November 30th, 2017 – PRODRONE Co., Ltd and KDDI Corporation together with corporation of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture have performed 4G LTE*1 Smart Drone autonomous flight experiment by utilizing 3D Map and Drone Port. Our drones flew to
carp pond via Drone Port which is able to automatically charge, and after spraying pesticides controlled in remote location, went back to landing point. The total flight distance is approximately 6.3 km (3.9 miles). We succeeded*2 this long distance flight for the first time in the world.

PRODRONE and KDDI aim to build infrastructure to enable long distance autonomous flight safely with Smart Drones by utilizing mobile communication network. This test was performed to set safe flight altitude by 3D map and use auto-chargeable Drone Port. With thus technology, we verified it is technically possible to fly drones automatically even in the long distance.