A group of Red Deer College grads were recognized for their ingenuity in using drone technology to create a flying Wi-Fi hotspot that could prove a life saver in remote locations.
The team of six Red Deer College grads was recognized as a Capstone Project of the Year finalist by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) for their innovative idea to allow people to get a cell signal where there is none from the ground.
Cell coverage is spotty in remote areas with forests and rough terrain. To get around that, the students equipped a small drone with specialized radio equipment to enhance cell service reception, which could save lives in search and rescue situations.
It can reach an altitude of up to 60 metres and project a Wi-Fi signal over a wide area, allowing calls to be made and texts sent. Taking off and landing on its own, it recharges its battery on the landing pad.
“This ASET Capstone Project of the Year Award finalist offers a lofty solution for those out of cell range. This is significant as we enter search and rescue season when lives can hang in the balance due to a dearth of effective telecommunications options,” says ASET CEO Barry Cavanaugh in a statement.
The Capstone Awards were established by ASET in 2017 in response to overwhelming member interest in back-to-school stories about Capstone projects undertaken by teams of engineering technology students from NAIT, SAIT, Red Deer College, and Lethbridge College as part of their end-of-program requirements.
According to team member Jonathan Wong, the flying Wi-Fi hotspot has other advantages: it costs up to 40 per cent less than constructing a portable cell tower; it takes half the amount of time to set up; there are no road restrictions; and it’s less expensive than a satellite phone.
“Currently, in areas where no cell service is available, industries are limited to only a few solutions, many of which involve big or bulky devices or curtail the number of users. The repeater drone was designed to build on the shortcomings of existing telecommunications options,” said Wong.
Other team members including, Jonathan’s brother, Austin Wong, Austin Smith, Denon Magnes, Kyler Sereda and Garrett Stewart.