Sky Drone FPV 3
4G/5G Connectivity for Drones
Sky Drone FPV 3 is an end-to-end encrypted low latency transmission system for drones utilizing 4G / LTE or 5G networks. It provides an unlimited range command & control as well as video-link via an included Full HD camera. Using the 5G mobile network you can benefit from higher bandwidth, lower latency and better Quality of Service (QoS) options of that new network technology.
Digital High Definition Video
The Sky Drone FPV 3 system comes with a high resolution camera with a wide dynamic range. Its low latency live video feed delivers up to 1080p at 30fps.
Telemetry and Command & Control Link
A bidirectional data link between your drone and your Ground Control Station adds remote Command & Control to your UAV. This can be used to visualize telemetry data and/or control the drone. The MAVLink protocol according to dronecode standard via JST-GH connector is supported out of the box. Proprietary protocols are transmitted as well.
Unlimited Range
By using existing cellular networks, the Sky Drone FPV system provides you with virtually unlimited range. The only requirement is cell tower coverage. The system is optimized for 4G / LTE or 5G networks to provide best video quality and lowest latency but can also fall back to 3G networks. It adapts to varying signal and bandwidth conditions by automatically adjusting video parameters without interrupting the stream.
Low latency
By using our own highly optimized video processing pipeline, the system is designed for lowest latency video from scratch. The typical end-to-end latency is less than 150ms.
Demo Videos
Sky Drone FPV performs well in various scenarios and with different hardware and software components. Blog posts covering various topics:
- Video Performance with Low Signal Strength / Bad Cellular Connection
- Real-Time Command & Control with QGroundControl
- Real-Time Command & Control with Mission Planner
- Real-Time Command & Control with Dronekit.io
- Connecting a Cube Flight Controller to Sky Drone FPV 3
- Connecting Pixhawk 4 Mini to Sky Drone FPV 3
- Connecting Pixracer to Sky Drone FPV 3 (and Link 3)
Groundstation Software / SDK
The client software to receive video from the Sky Drone FPV 3 unit runs on Windows and Linux with version for MacOS, Android and iOS in the pipeline. It provides seamless integration with third party GCS applications for command & control (e.g. QGroundControl). An SDK is available for custom integrations or video-processing on the ground.
Interchangeable Lenses
The Sky Drone FPV 3 system is using high quality lenses that are interchangeable. Instead of locking you to a specific lens, you have the freedom to change the lens for specific use cases (wide angle lens for best overview or narrow FOV lenses for artistic flights with less distortion).
Security
The video stream, command&control channel and meta data are fully end-to-end encrypted making it impossible for third parties to eavesdrop the transmission or interfere with it. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we rely on open and proven standards including Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) and Secure Real-Time Protocol (SRTP) using AES256.
What's in the Box?
Technical Specification
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Weight: |
159g incl. lens, case, cables |
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Measurements: |
Box: 89 mm x 61mm x 22 mm (L x W x H) |
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Power Input: |
5V@2A (max. power voltage 28V 6S) |
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Video Resolution: |
Full HD (up to 1080p 30fps) |
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Lens: |
Interchangeable, default: 92° FOV |
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Antenna: |
dual external antenna included |
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Typical Glass-to-Glass Latency: |
<150ms |
| Typical Data Consumption on 4G/LTE: |
10 minutes of streaming consumes: |
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Cellular Network Technology: |
4G Version: LTE Advanced Pro 5G Version: Multi-Band 5G NR/LTE-FDD/LTE-TDD/HSPA+ 5G SA (standalone) and 5G NSA (non-standalone) |
| Supported Frequency Bands of 4G/LTE Version: |
B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B9, B12, B13, B18, B19, B20, B26, B28, B29, B30, B32, B41, B42, B43, B46, B48, B66 |
| Supported Frequency Bands of 5G Version: |
Sub-6G: n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n28, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 LTE-FDD: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B14, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B29, B30, B32, B66, B71 LAA: B46 |
| Public Safety Networks (4G Version): |
public safety LTE networks in Europe (B20, B28) |
| Private LTE Networks (4G Version): |
3.5GHz local private networks (CBRS band) |
| Carrier Certifications (4G Version): |
AT&T, Verizon
Certification in progress: Bell, docomo, KDDI, Rogers, Softbank, Telstra, Telus |
For more information see How-It-Works.
Compatibility and Requirements
| UAV / Drone | |
| Modes: |
Video transmission only: Video and command & control: |
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Command & Control Autopilot: |
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| Command & Control Protocols: |
 MAVLink or anycustom protocol in raw-mode |
| Groundstation Software | Sky Drone FPV Client Software |
| System: |
Minimum: Intel i5, 4 GB RAM Recommended: Intel i7, 8 GB RAM, dedicated graphics card. Operating System:
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| Command & Control Groundstation: |
Sky Drone FPV 3 Groundstation provides a TCP interface, which is compatible with:
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Downloads
What's In The Box
- Sky Drone FPV 3 Main Unit
- Camera Module with Lens and Cable
- two external 4G/LTE antennas
- wifi module for unit setup
- uBEC with power cable
- Telemetry Cable using JST-GH (Dronecode Standard)
- CE/FCC Certification Card with Manual