Drone-as-IoT-Infrastructure: IoT without the need for a radio network infrastructure

Once in a while, I run into a collection of technologies that when combined present a solution to a problem that has eluded the market for a long time.

Multiple radio networks were introduced to address the needs of IoT, such as:

• LoRa
• NB-IoT
• WiFi
• Bluetooth

Each of these radio technologies has a limitation on range but all require some sort of infrastructure to be in place for IoT to happen. Think of all the farms, forests, riverbeds, coast line, transmission lines, and other such locations that stand to benefit immensely from IoT but do not today for the lack of infrastructure.

It is not economically viable to extend the radio infrastructure to cover such vast areas. till now....Drone-as-IoT-Infrastructure !

Imagine a drone with a 5G private base station, with WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRA and some storage. An autonomous, low cost, flying IoT Cloud and network infrastructure rolled into one!

Such a drone is the missing low cost IoT infrastructure that will support all endpoints regardless of choice of radio for that specific application.

A farmer may use sensors with Bluetooth for cows, LoRa for soil sensors and WiFi for farm equipment. A company may use NB-IoT for transmission lines, while the county would use it for forests, coast line erosion and sea movement sensors.

Other than in emergency situations, the sensor on a cow does not need to send notifications every minute. Hourly or daily notifications may be enough for many use cases in such places.

The scenario is a drone that does a fly-over a few times during the day to collect data and perform device management. All sorts of possibilities open up, scheduled drone runs where sensors automatically wake up and exchange data and management. Unscheduled drone runs to capture any urgent unexpected notifications.

Drones for such a function are low cost and operate autonomously. One can imagine the emergence of the Drone-as-IoT-Infrastructure service to pick up data and manage devices. All the technological components are available today. IoT platform providers need to make the mindset leap to take IoT to where no infrastructure exists.

This is my simple proposal to bring the wonders of IoT to places with no coverage without the need for a massive investment to extend the radio infrastructure. alternatives? any one?

============= below is the view behind the ChatGPT AI ===============

Using drones as flying IoT network infrastructure can offer several advantages over traditional network infrastructure solutions. Here are some possible business justifications for this approach:

1. Greater flexibility: Drones can be deployed quickly and easily in remote or hard-to-reach areas, allowing for greater network coverage and flexibility. This can be especially useful for industries such as mining, agriculture, or disaster response, where traditional infrastructure may not be available or practical.
2. Lower cost: Drones can provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional infrastructure, such as cellular towers or satellite networks, which can be expensive to install and maintain. In addition, drones can be easily repositioned or relocated, reducing the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.
3. Improved data collection and analysis: Drones equipped with IoT sensors can collect and transmit real-time data, providing valuable insights into a wide range of applications, such as monitoring crop health, tracking wildlife, or monitoring infrastructure such as bridges or pipelines.
4. Increased productivity: By providing reliable and high-speed connectivity, drones can enable businesses to operate more efficiently and productively, whether it's monitoring inventory in a warehouse or enabling remote workers to collaborate seamlessly.

In summary, using drones as flying IoT network infrastructure can offer a range of benefits, from greater flexibility and lower cost to enhanced security and increased productivity. By leveraging the latest drone and IoT technology, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge in today's fast-paced and dynamic marketplace.

----------

Disclaimer: Please note that the opinions expressed here are my own views and not those of my employer.