AT&T and Ericsson have demonstrated a drone detection service using advanced network sensing over a 5G network. The demonstration was conducted in authorised airspace outside the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during one of the largest global sporting events in the world.
The service detected and located multiple drones then tracked their movement. Ericsson said the demonstration shows how capabilities often associated with future 6G systems can begin today before full commercialisation.
“Using existing cellular towers, Ericsson deployed its Massive MIMO radios across multiple sites, creating a multi-static sensing configuration,” the company said in a press release. “The demonstration combined sensing-enabled radio transmissions with advanced signal processing and AI-enabled sensing algorithms to detect, locate and track the drones in real time.”
The sensing technology detected and continuously tracked multiple drones flying at altitudes between 300 and 400 feet within the coverage area. Real-time target metrics, including the drone’s location, velocity and elevation, enabled comprehensive tracking and monitoring throughout the flight path.
AT&T and Ericsson will continue working together with future demonstrations and research, alongside others. One of the aims is to support a wide-area drone awareness system for public-sector stakeholders, improving visibility into low-altitude drone activity as the low-altitude economy develops across cities and regions.
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