Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), once reserved for military personnel, are today enjoyed by commercial and recreational pilots alike. You have likely seen them at your local park, beach, or even in your neighborhood, as enthusiasts engage in racing, photography, and videography. However, the potential for UAVs, or more commonly referred to as drones, is much greater. Currently, governments and private corporations use UAVs to patrol borders, deliver food and medical supplies, assess structural damage, fertilize crops, execute covert operations, survey land, and much more.
In order to successfully complete these missions, drone pilots typically rely on clear video feeds with low latency from the drone back to the controlling device. Most drones achieve this through satellite communication or directional gain antennas – common on popular drones such as the DJI Mavic, Inspire, and Phantom. However, the advent of 5G wireless technology adds a new dimension to future use and the effectiveness of drones.
Built to deliver faster data transfer speeds with lower latency, more reliability, and more network capacity, 5G provides the ability for drones to relay higher quality video feeds back to operators over greater distances. Such improvements in technology are paving the way for new commercial industries such as drone package and meal deliveries services. Much like we’ve seen 5G wireless technology enhance innovation in other industries—self-driving vehicles and streaming media come to mind—we see the potential of 5G drones taking flight. For example, Amazon introduced the idea of using drones to charge electric vehicles on the go. Imagine how 5G technology will bolster drone innovation and competition related to the electric vehicles space.
At WIT, we have developed teams of testifying and consulting experts that touch on every aspect of 5G litigation, licensing, valuation, and business advice, as well as related industries like UAVs. In fact, WIT affiliate, Dr. Ron Barrett of the University of Kansas’ Adaptive Aerostructures Laboratory, is Autel Robotic’s expert in its long-running dispute with SZ DJI Technology over consumer drone patents. The district court case is scheduled for trial in Delaware in August.
“Competition in the UAV industry is ramping up and companies are racing to establish new branches of technology and market dominance,” said Dr. Ron Barrett, WIT Affiliate Expert in Aerospace Engineering. “Working with WIT has enabled me to work with leading attorneys on interesting cases related to my field of expertise.”
Below are some examples of experts who can address issues relevant to litigation:
- Electrical engineers that build, design, and test wireless networks, antennas, and sensors.
- Computer scientists and engineers who are knowledgeable about network security, robot swarms, imaging, digital signal processing, and user experience and design.
- Mechanical and aerospace engineers who are familiar with aerodynamics, flight times, and other UAV-related hardware.
- Industry executives who understand broadcast communications regulations (FCC), cellular standards, and related policy.
Learn more about our 5G Expert Team and our Intellectual Property practice area, or contact us to discuss your expert witness needs. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up-to-date on our latest insights.