RALEIGH – N.C. State University and several partners have landed a $24 million federal grant to create the first wireless platform to link drones and emerging next-generation technology known as 5G.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. ignite, an organization seeking to drive broadband availability and use across the country, announced the awarding of the grant at an event Wednesday afternoon. Officials said they expect the project will be a magnet in attracting talent.
The grant is the third made to drive 5G utilization, a much-faster form of communication and data delivery than current 4G networks. 5G is seen as being the network with the capacity and speed to link the growing Internet of Things world, from smart cars to sensors on all manner of devices.
Ken Calvert, NSF’s division director, said the project aims to demonstrate “exciting convergence” of emerging 5G and unmanned aerial systems.
“We don’t feel our job [in Raleigh and Durham] is complete until it is in use..
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