In response to Japan’s ageing population and the resulting societal challenges, KDDI Smart Drone is transforming traditional industries through innovative drone technology and advanced mobile communication solutions.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how KDDI Smart Drone harnessed the power of IP cameras and live streaming to provide real-time monitoring and advanced communication solutions.
Who is KDDI Smart Drone?
KDDI Smart Drone, subsidiary company of KDDI Group, is a company that uses drone technology to address significant social issues. They recognize the vital role of mobile and advanced communications in the future application of drones. Built on the concept of “drones x mobile communications = smart drones,” KDDI Smart Drone is positioned at the intersection of telecommunications and drone innovation.
As drones are rapidly expanding into inspection, surveying, aerial photography, surveillance, and logistics, KDDI Smart Drone is leveraging its communications expertise and drone operation track record to provide comprehensive services.
As a drone platform, the company offers a variety of services, including flight operation services that manage drone flight plans and operations, inspection services using drone photography, and traffic management services that manage airspace.
What was their challenge?
Diverse Video Protocols: Each manufacturer uses its own protocol, and while they primarily worked with SRT for secure and reliable streaming, many drones did not support this protocol. KDDI needed a solution that could integrate multiple protocols seamlessly.
Limited Platform Accessibility: Their original client application was Android-only, restricting access for users on other platforms and devices. Expanding support was necessary to increase reach and usability.
Need for Low-Latency Video Viewing: Low latency is critical for real-time applications. Rebuilding the app as a web-based platform would enable cross-platform support and provide a faster, more responsive video experience.
Why did they choose Ant Media Server?
We first considered using AWS’s video services to build a PF on AWS, but it was difficult to use existing AWS services due to issues such as:
・Latency of less than 1 second
・Multi-protocol support
・Automatic switching according to communication (adaptive)
・Cost
PROBLEM
- Cost
- Multi-protocol support
- Low video streaming performance
SOLUTION
- Adaptive Streaming
- Multi-Protocol Support
- Multi-Site Distribution
How did they benefit from the Ant Media Server?
By implementing Ant Media Server, KDDI achieved several key advantages:
Multi-Site Distribution: We support multi-site distribution, enabling to broadcast to multiple locations simultaneously without compromising performance. also noted that they achieved a maximum latency of 500ms while displaying five simultaneous IP camera streams in a web browser.
Ultra-Low Latency: We deliver video latency below 1 second, ensuring real-time responsiveness for your applications.
Multi-Protocol Support: Our flexible protocol support simplifies integration with various drone models and minimizes impact on existing systems.
On-Demand Usage: Our licensing model allows easy scaling and helps to reduce unnecessary costs.
Adaptive Streaming: We ensure stable, high-quality streams by adapting to each client’s network conditions, even in fluctuating environments.
What are their aspirations moving forward?
They aim to provide a better video distribution tailored to their customers’ communication situations.
In conclusion
By working with KDDI Smart Drone, Ant Media Server has provided the flexibility and ultra-low latency needed to support a wide range of drone applications. Our multi-protocol support and adaptive streaming capabilities have helped KDDI Smart Drone build a robust platform that integrates smoothly with diverse drone models and adjusts to varying network conditions, ensuring real-time video distribution at scale.
As KDDI Smart Drone moves forward, we’re excited to support their goals to further optimize costs and deliver tailored, high-quality video experiences to their customers. Together, we’re driving impactful solutions that leverage drones and advanced communications to address pressing social challenges in Japan and beyond.
Along with KDDI, we’ve had the pleasure of sharing numerous other case studies from our partners who have utilized Ant Media Server, including Fox, who use it for uninterrupted broadcasting experience, and Mojohost trusted us with their clients for streaming services.
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