UAV Australia: 3 Drone Pilot Challenges & How to Solve Them With Low Bandwidth Real-Time Video Streaming
Drone Pilot Innovation: From UAV land surveying to remote surveillance to routine substation inspections, real-time drone technology is revolutionising the way drone pilots approach mission critical operations in hard-to-reach locations and unpredictable environments worldwide – and the Australian market is no different.
Low bandwidth video streaming for commercial drone deliveries, UAV land surveys & more
With drone transport trials set to take off in 2026 for Melbourne’s Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Australia’s commercial drone ecosystem is rapidly gaining strength. And as more companies integrate the latest drone technology to enhance remote operations, the demand for drone pilots continues to soar in key industries such as cargo delivery, agriculture and search and rescue.
However, to stand out in this increasingly competitive market, delivering the highest quality imagery and service possible in unpredictable conditions, whilst remaining competitive, is essential.
Equipment failures, severe weather, technical limitations, interference and regulatory compliance all contribute to drone signal interruption. So, how can drone pilots solve these challenges head on and maintain safety on the ground, whilst minimising data usage and downtime at the same time?…
If you’re a drone pilot looking for real-time image advancements to give you a competitive edge and adapt to the changing environment, here are three top challenges faced by drone pilots in Australia that can be solved with our low bandwidth video streaming solutions.
3 drone pilot challenges & how to solve them
1. Live Footage Delays, Distortions & Signal Loss
Championed by some of Australia’s most prominent industries, from mining to manufacturing to construction, drones are simplifying a range of mission critical tasks in tough working environments – with reports revealing that 75% of mines in Australasia are already fully invested in drone technology. However, if a drone’s video stream isn’t designed for low bitrate transmission, poor video quality, playback issues, excessive buffering and complete signal loss can occur. Just one second behind real-time could be the difference between life and death or catastrophic damage to vital assets.
Designed to ensure safety in the air and on the ground, our ultra-low bandwidth video solutions are particularly beneficial to Beyond Visual Line of Sight pilots (BVLOS) where reliable, always-on communication is vital for safer operations. Our software includes full edge recording and self-healing architecture in the event of disconnections and reconnections, ensuring any potential network disruptions are swiftly resolved without compromising the flow of critical data.
Exclusive to Videosoft, our Total Recall™ feature also allows drone pilots to identify areas of interest in an image to request enhancement in that area, even if the encoded live stream doesn’t provide the detail required.
2. Extreme Weather Conditions
Known for its scorching temperatures in central desert regions, as well as destructive bushfires, cyclones and periods of drought, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Australia continues to challenge drone pilots down under. Often leading to slower data transmission and unstable or dropped connections, weather interference can be caused by moisture in the air absorbing and scattering the signals. In turn, this reduces the strength and range of the available bandwidth.
Our resilient solution stands strong, regardless of bandwidth constraints, guaranteeing unrivalled reliability, performance and power where it matters most. We enable users to achieve ultra-low bandwidth performance from 1kbps whilst sustaining functional image quality. Flexible and adaptable, drone pilots can seamlessly switch between Satellite, Cellular, Mesh and Microwave networks to stay steps ahead of fluctuating conditions.
Drone pilots can also choose the compression and transmission profiles required in real-time, enabling them to drop to an ultra-low bitrate using the Videosoft client viewer whilst still delivering actionable video quality.
3. Limited Endurance & BVLOS capabilities
Although a relatively new concept, Australia was among the first to embrace Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Allowing pilots to operate drones in one country whilst located in another, the demand for drone technology with reliable BVLOS capabilities continues to climb. Focused on supporting digital technology to strengthen and advance manufacturing and farming processes, it’s encouraging to see that new funding has recently been announced by the Australian government to take BVLOS drone and eVTOL research to the next level. However, as BVLOS and UAV technology continues to evolve, factors such as weight, size and battery life still continue to limit drone pilots when it comes to live streaming drone manoeuvres in real-time.
The fact is, ultra-low bandwidth video streaming uses significantly less data. Lower data transmission conserves more power, which can help extend BVLOS and EVLOS flight times considerably. Ideal for commercial drone deliveries, remote UAV land surveying and complex asset inspections, Videosoft’s adaptable software is simplifying long-range drone missions whilst paving the way for the future of urban mobility via autonomous eVTOL taxi flights.
Not all real-time video streaming solutions are created equal
Able to extend signal range, heighten drone security, enhance decision making and minimise data transmission costs like no other, book a demo today to learn more about the vast array of benefits our leading video compression software offers drone pilots and drone operators worldwide.
Drone Pilot Events: Global Drone Solutions 2024 ┃ Drone Industry Summit Perth, Australia
On Friday 30th August, Richard Coston, APAC Sales Manager, shared his expertise at the pioneering Drone Industry Summit hosted by Global Drone Solutions at The Hub, Bentley Technology Park in Perth. Incredibly well-received by 160+ attendees, Richard revealed how extending the range and reliability of UAV and BVLOS operations is now possible with the market’s lowest bandwidth video streaming solution and discussed how live and post-processing video techniques can streamline drone operations across a wide range of industries.
Mahmood Hussein, CEO of Global Drone Solutions, commented:
“Your presentation was a highlight, offering invaluable insights and information that will undoubtedly help propel the drone industry forward. The commitment to collaboration and the depth of knowledge shared were impressive and appreciated by all attendees.”
Bigger and better than ever, it was a pleasure to meet everyone whilst gaining valuable insight into the future of EVLOS and BVLOS applications down under. Appreciation to the whole GDS event team for all their hard work to make this a truly unforgettable event and we highly recommend attending the Drone Industry Summit next year!
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