| Project Reference: | ITP/044/25LP |
| Project Title: | Design And Technical Development Of A Tool-set To Facilitate Sandbox Flight Path Execution |
| Hosting Institution: | LSCM R&D Centre (LSCM) |
| Abstract: | Following the rapid growth of the low-altitude economy, the application potential of drones in areas such as logistics, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring has become increasingly prominent. However, Hong Kong has yet to establish a reliable and stable real-time data transmission system to LAE operational requirements. Advanced communication technologies like 5.5G and 5G-A require significant investment and time to implement, making their widespread adoption unfeasible in the short term. Therefore, this project proposes the development of a tool-set that enables sandbox flight path testing and validation for low-altitude drones based on the existing 4G/5G mobile network infrastructure. The tool-set will include: - The design of a dedicated 4G/5G communication modules capable of stable flight to equipped with drone platform. - On-site data collection of key indicators such as RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, as well as flight altitude, speed, and position. - Build low altitude 4G/5G communication heatmaps through data analysis to visualize signal coverage and stability. - Produce feasible east-west and north-south flight routes with stable signal performance. This tool-set will assist in selecting reliable and interference-minimized flight paths during sandbox testing, helping to reduce operational risks. It offers a initial preliminary possible solution to support the early-stage development of the low-altitude economy in Hong Kong. |
| Project Coordinator: | Dr To Bun Ng |
| Approved Funding Amount: | HK$ 1.30M |
| Project Period: | 15 Aug 2025 - 15 Nov 2026 |
