Korea’s top mobile carrier partners with drone maker DJI to add live- streaming high-def video to drones.
Korean mobile operator SK Telecom and China-based drone-maker DJI have agreed to co-develop high-performance, high-definition live video streaming capabilities for drones for use on mobile networks. A live, real-time, high-def video stream would be useful in tower inspections and other industrial and agricultural uses.
SK Telecom brings to the table a live video streaming encoder, mobile app and server software that leverage its “T live caster” video streaming technology. The solution “will enable live streaming of HD footage on DJI drones and hand-held gimbal products … with minimal latency via mobile communications [networks],” according to SK Telecom.
The combined technology could expand potential uses for drones across industries, according to the two companies — from enterprise applications and public safety to entertainment, including TV broadcasting and the ability to stream live drone videos on outlets such as Facebook Live.
The drone-based streaming capabilities will be offered first in the U.S., Japan and Korea. SK Telecom added that once 5G networks are in place, the video transmission app will provide ultra-high definition (4K or 8K) drone videos running on 5G mobile devices, such as phones and tablets.
DJI makes popular civilian consumer and professional drones used in telecom tower inspections.
The partners said that they will also explore incorporating DJI’s drone control software, DJI Go, with SK’s T Live Caster Smart. Another target being considered: integrating SK’s video reception and control server system T Live Studio with DJI’s drone operations management software FlightHub.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding for the partnership on June 8.
DJI and Microsoft announced in May that they are creating a software development kit (SDK) for Microsoft Windows 10 PCs, a commonly used destination for drone videos. DJI’s partnership with Microsoft will add flight control and real-time data transfer to PCs and is intended to help drone users connect to edge services. Drone users will also have access to artificial intelligence and machine learning via Microsoft Azure. DJI named Microsoft Azure as its preferred cloud computing partner.
