New Parrot Drone Features 4G Link Between UAV Operator

Parrot has announced ANAFI Ai, a professional UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that according to the company is the first ever drone to use 4G as the main data link between the aircraft and the operator. The 4G connectivity enables precise control at any distance and allows BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations to stay connected even behind obstacles.

ANAFI Ai embeds a Secure Element in the drone and in the Skycontroller 4, providing an encrypted 4G link between the drone and the user’s phone. The Secure Element protects both the integrity of the software and the privacy of the transferred data.

Parrot’s large partner ecosystem delivers a variety of specialized applications and services for professional uses. The company’s piloting application is open-source, and a Software Development Kit (SDK) allows developers to execute custom code in the ANAFI Ai drone during the flight. The SDK gives access to all flight sensors, including obstacle avoidance sensors, occupancy grid and internet access.

ANAFI Ai’s uniquely designed obstacle-avoidance system detects obstacles in all directions, using stereo cameras to sense objects and automatically avoid them. The drone incorporates a 48 MP main camera and a stabilized 4K 60fps / HDR10 camera to capture finely-detailed aerial images and smooth video footage.

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