Helping Drones Communicate with Joseph Camp, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at SMU

 

Finding a good WiFi signal is becoming a common, daily concern, as our smart devices multiply, especially in the commercial world. Dropping a connection while checking Instagram is not exactly a catastrophe. Losing connection to a drone flying over a disaster area is another story. On today’s podcast, our host spoke with Professor Joseph Camp Ph.D., Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering. After receiving an $850,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to find innovative solutions to improve drone communication, Camp and his team are working toward infrastructure for three-dimensional drone connectivity.

On the podcast, Camp discussed the difference between 2D and 3D communication, the challenge of weight to energy ratio, and the reality of using drones to help solve ground-based network outages during a crisis. “What we found was that, unlike the 2 dimensional communication that we’re used to, we noticed that when we took the drone up to a certain height, that directly below the drone we were having no connectivity to that ground,” Camp said. “And this happened only about 60 feet in the air that we started to experience this effect.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Pro AV Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication. A new episode of the Pro AV Show drops every Thursday.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @ProAVMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DX
Pursuing the World’s Rarest DX: Vadym Ivliev, UT6UD, and the Story That Led Him to Bouvet
January 16, 2026

For some operators, Bouvet Island represents the ultimate technical challenge. For Vadym Ivliev (UT6UD), it is something more personal—and more mysterious. From his home in Kyiv—far removed from the ice, storms, and isolation of Bouvet—Vadym has long been drawn to the island not only for its legendary radio silence, but for the stories it inspires….

Read More
GameStop
Inside GameStop’s Meteoric Stock Surge: A Former Executive Reflects on Power, Pivots, and the Price of Winning
January 15, 2026

The meme-stock era may feel like old news, but its aftershocks are still reshaping how leaders think about transformation, risk, and reward. In the wake of unprecedented short squeezes, shuttered storefronts, and sudden wealth creation, executives across retail and tech are still asking what actually happened—and why. Few episodes crystallize those questions better than…

Read More
podcast
The DisruptED Journey with Tim Maitland at MarketScale (Episode Three)
January 15, 2026

Storytelling is changing fast, shaped by new platforms, shifting audiences, and a growing demand for authenticity. What started as traditional podcasting has evolved into community-driven ecosystems built on real voices and lived experience. In this landscape, storytelling isn’t just content—it’s a way to build connection, spark engagement, and drive meaningful change. When done well,…

Read More
education
The DisruptED Journey with Tim Maitland at MarketScale (Episode Two)
January 15, 2026

Education is at a crossroads. As AI, online learning, and workforce demands rapidly reshape how people gain skills, long-standing gaps in access and outcomes remain a major concern in Michigan. Recent reporting on the 2025 State of Education and Talent shows Michigan has fallen to its lowest ever ranking in per capita income, underscoring…

Read More