Indigenously Developed HD Video Transmission System for UAVs Employing a 3 × 3 MIMO Antenna System

Real-time high-definition (HD) video transmission for long distances (≥1 km) between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a ground station is challenging problem. The existing real-time solutions are limited to relatively low-quality streaming, whereas HD video, which stored in the local memory, accessible only when UAV returns ground. In this study, system (VTS) with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna configuration state-of-the-art coverage proposed security inspection applications. VTS employs ultrathin, lightweight antennas that suitable seamless integration UAV’s body without any protrusion. A $3\times3$ MIMO large bandwidths (3.9% at 2.4 GHz 6.9% 5.2 GHz) enables simultaneous of multiple data streams high rates (>30 Mbps), gain (~10 dBi) allows communication range (>3 km). field experiments, module (comprising thin conformal antennas, embedded electronics, RF transceiver, camera) attached commercial drone DJI Matrice 600 Pro. video’s reception performance investigated operation two frequency bands (2.4 both horizontal vertical orientations. maximum average various reported. Based on conducted it found capable transmitting up 3.56-km distance receiver sensitivity −76 dBm. achieved 500-m ~10 ~43 Mbps 2.4- 5.2-GHz bands, respectively.