Enhancing Tower Inspection with 5G-Connected Drone Systems

Rogers Communications, with around 8,000 cell towers in Canada, faces challenges in manual inspections, which are slow and risky. In collaboration with Rogers, our research team is developing a cutting-edge solution: small drones enhanced with 5G and AI technology. This approach aims to revolutionize tower inspections by providing faster, more accurate, and safer methods. The drones, augmented with AI at the Mobile Edge Computing level,
will significantly reduce the weight and operational costs, while also minimizing safety hazards. The upcoming phase of our project focuses on advanced computer vision algorithms for comprehensive 2D and 3D analysis,
enhancing inspection quality. Additionally, we plan to integrate Augmented Reality for more efficient, hands-free data collection, eliminating traditional control methods. We are also exploring the potential of generative AI
technologies, such as ChatGPT, to develop intuitive navigation paths for drones. This will streamline operations and boost data collection efficiency, heralding a new era in cellular tower maintenance.

Faculty Supervisor:

Chul Min Yeum

Student:

Partner:

Rogers Communications Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: