Final System Shake-Down at the British Drone Racing Association UK 2024 Championships

The British Drone Racing Association (BDRA) held its UK 2024 Championships at the British Model Flying Association headquarters in Buckminster. During this event, the One4HDD project conducted its final system shake-down, successfully proving the technology, systems and deployment processes..

The temporary site deployment, of our Cell On wheels, showcased all the essential elements needed to deliver a high-quality 2G/4G/5G service, with a particular focus on a premium 5G multicast broadcast service, proving the ability to stream live video directly from a camera to viewers' mobile devices at the event getting fans closer to the action. A number of key factors were put to the test, including 5G video services and conducting Customer Experience Testing (CET).

This follows the announcement on 17th June regarding our system shake-down at the Weston Park International Airshow. At that event, the ONE4HDD project successfully demonstrated its 'drive-in and deploy' 5G solution in real-time.

The Weston Park demonstration proved that the mobile system could be driven to a high-density event, set up, and be ready to broadcast in just a few hours. This milestone brings the project closer to future technical and consumer trials, where we will refine the 4G and 5G elements and deploy the Customer Experience Testing equipment.

The end-to-end technical shake-down included key components from consortium partners, including Ateme, DTG, Imaginary Pictures, VMO2, the University of Surrey, and our suppliers. The production vehicle provided by Imaginary Pictures was fitted with production and master control systems for camera inputs, and Ateme's technology handled video and audio compression, ultimately looking to deliver a multicast broadcast service.

ATS Group supplied the transmission vehicle, equipped with a 4.5KVA generator, a battery backup system, Starlink internet connectivity, and a mast supporting both 4G and 5G mobile network solutions. Virgin Media O2, who also provides technical leadership for the project, developed the mobile application that allowed event attendees to receive the broadcast, while Wavemobile delivered the crucial 4G and 5G radio solution.

Connecting crowds enhancing experiences…