Drones

Introduction

Problem

Drones (agricultural, commercial, or personal) are often used in remote areas where local operators’ coverage is unstable. If the device crashes or loses connection, it becomes extremely difficult to locate it, especially if it crashes in a “dead zone” or somewhere in a field. Add to this the cost of the drone itself, and you have significant risks and losses.

Our solution

Thanks to our global IoT SIM card (supporting all three operators in Ukraine), you get guaranteed coverage even in areas with weak signals, in border regions, mountains, fields, etc. Our SIM automatically switches to the operator with the best coverage, ensuring continuous transmission of GPS coordinates via LTE / 3G / 2G.

How does it work?

Drones are usually equipped with additional GPS trackers (e.g., BI 868 Trek LTE) or autonomous beacons (e.g., the popular BI 310 Trek Cicada) from the Kiev-based manufacturer Bitrek, which contain our IoT SIM or IoT MFF2 SIM chip:

• The device weighs less than 100 g, so it does not affect the flight and balance of the drone.
• Once installed, the tracker begins to transmit the drone’s coordinates every 1–2 minutes, even if the drone is out of range of the remote control.
• The ability to receive SMS messages with the current geolocation in case of loss of connection with the drone.
• The beacon allows you to find a fallen drone, thanks to its autonomy of 1-2 years, simpler and more reliable design, transmitting geopositions according to a set schedule.

Real-life scenario

A drone was flying over mountains, lost connection, and made a hard landing in a remote part of the location. Thanks to the GPS tracker with our IoT SIM, the drone continued to send coordinates. The tracker recorded the crash — the operator immediately received an SMS with the exact location, and the service team quickly found the device — completely avoiding the loss of equipment and data.

If the tracker malfunctions during a crash, the beacon — as a backup communication channel on a schedule (any cycle, 1, 2, 10, 30 times a day) — wakes up and transmits the coordinates to the server.

This way, we get an optimal system with primary and backup levels of control.

Key benefits:

• Ability to locate a crashed drone. Automatic switching between operators allows you to maintain communication even when you fall outside the main coverage area.
• Minimal delays. GPS coordinates are received frequently, so you will have a track, and in the worst-case scenario, even if the tracker crashes, you can still get data from the beacon and determine the crash site.
• Convenient integration.
• The trackers have both an open protocol and work with all popular GPS monitoring platforms in Ukraine, as well as a closed, encrypted communication channel (optional).
• Lightweight and reliable. The tracker weighs less than 120 g, and the beacon weighs less than 100 g. The kit includes a silicone moisture-proof case and a cross strap for attachment.
• Saves time and money. No need to spend hours searching in the field — all you need are the coordinates, and you have a good chance of finding the fallen drone safe and sound.
• Can be customized for specific scenarios.

Ready to protect your air fleet?

Installing our IoT SIM is a simple step that ensures drone safety and flight control in all conditions.

Contact 24na7.net — we will select the optimal connection plan and help you choose the right hardware for your device.

Don’t lose your drones — connect an IoT SIM from 24na7 and stay connected where regular cellular networks can’t reach!