KDDI and KDDI Smart Drone Successfully Demonstrate Simultaneous Operation of 10 Drones by One Remote Pilot
KDDI and KDDI Smart Drone successfully demonstrated the simultaneous operation of 10 drones across multiple regions by a single remote pilot. They confirmed the effectiveness of a monitoring system that relies on centralized telemetry via a UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system rather than continuous camera video monitoring.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 06:16
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 22:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 22:03 (1 min after Collected)
This project was conducted as part of the 'Integrated Research and Development for Commercializing Simultaneous Multi-Drone Operation in Various Use Cases,' under the NEDO 'Project for Realizing Social Implementation of Next-Generation Air Mobility (ReAMo Project).'
In conventional multi-drone operations, pilots needed to constantly watch camera footage, limiting simultaneous flights to about 5 units for safety. In this demonstration, the companies utilized permanently installed drone ports (Skydio Dock for X10) in Hokkaido, Chiba, Tokyo, and Ishikawa. From a Tokyo base, they used a UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system to centralize telemetry data (e.g., flight status, battery level, altitude) of all 10 drones. This allowed the pilot to safely manage 10 drones simultaneously across different operational environments.
KDDI and its subsidiary aim to build a drone-based social infrastructure by deploying AI-equipped drones to 1,000 locations nationwide, ensuring an AI drone can be remotely dispatched to any location within 10 minutes.
Key achievements include:
- Successful 1-to-10 routine flight: Confirmed safe landing and full situational awareness via telemetry.
- Multi-anomaly response: Established procedures to detect multiple simultaneous issues (e.g., low battery), prioritize responses, and execute safe emergency landings.
- Pilot workload reduction: NASA-TLX assessments visualized that UTM-led telemetry monitoring is effective for sustaining pilot focus and reducing fatigue.
FAQ
When was the period of KDDI's demonstration of simultaneous operation of 10 drones?
It was conducted from March 23 to April 27, 2026.
What is the new monitoring method confirmed in this demonstration?
It focuses on centralized operation monitoring using telemetry information (aircraft status, battery level, position, altitude, etc.) via UTM (Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management) rather than relying on constant camera surveillance.
How was the operator's workload evaluated during the simultaneous operation of 10 drones?
A survey using line-of-sight measurement and NASA-TLX (NASA Task Load Index) confirmed that monitoring primarily based on telemetry information is effective for maintaining the operator's concentration and reducing fatigue.
What project is this demonstration a part of?
It was conducted as part of the 'Project for Realization of Next-Generation Air Mobility Social Implementation' (ReAMo Project) promoted by NEDO.
What is the future vision of KDDI and KDDI Smart Drone?
They aim to deploy AI drones at 1,000 locations nationwide to establish a drone infrastructure that can respond remotely within 10 minutes anywhere in the country.