Technological innovation continues to gain momentum in Somorrostro thanks to SKYVISION 5G, a Tknika project that combines private 5G networks, drones and artificial intelligence to improve the inspection and maintenance of photovoltaic installations.
The initiative, led by CIFP Bidasoa and in which we participate alongside the company Drone By Drone, seeks to receive real-time images from drones flying over solar panels. These images are then analysed using artificial intelligence models, allowing faults to be anticipated and malfunctions to be detected before they occur.
Connectivity tests with our private 5G network
On Friday, 21 November, technicians from Drone By Drone visited our centre with one of their professional drones. The objective: to check whether, using a SIM card device (a dongle installed in the drone itself), it was possible to connect it to the private 5G cellular network implemented by our colleague Vicente Llarena.
And the test was a success. For the first time, we managed to connect a drone to our private 5G network, a very significant leap forward in the project, as until now we had only carried out tests with other terrestrial devices.
This private network is the one we use with students in the Fixed and Mobile Telephone Networks and 5G Cellular Networks modules, and it has become a real learning environment that puts us at the forefront of this specialisation.
The possibilities of drones with 5G connectivity
Drones are increasingly being used in industry, sport, security, emergencies and audiovisual production. Adding cellular connectivity opens up a range of new possibilities: high-quality video transmission, more precise control, remote operations and advanced use cases in professional environments.
For the time being, weather conditions have only allowed indoor testing, but later on, the drone will fly over the photovoltaic panels on the roof of Lanberri to obtain real images. These will be processed using AI algorithms developed by our colleague Jon Ander Maíz, becoming a valuable use case for students of the Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Specialisation.
A project that brings together our two main areas of expertise
SKYVISION 5G is a perfect example of how Somorrostro brings together two of our areas of expertise:
- 5G Cellular networks
- Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
A collaborative effort that puts us at the forefront of these specialisations.
Somorrostro continues to focus on real projects, cutting-edge technology and learning connected to the future. And this drone is just the beginning.
