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

branding
Bonfire Branding: How Solo Stove Sparked a Customer Movement with Liz Vanzura (Episode One)
January 22, 2026

When pandemic restrictions shut down restaurants, paused travel, and compressed social lives, connection didn’t disappear; it moved closer to home. Backyards quietly emerged as important gathering spaces, offering a simple way to be together without screens, schedules, or spectacle. What began as a workaround evolved into a familiar rhythm of gathering. In that shift,…

Read More
customer movement
Bonfire Branding: How Solo Stove Sparked a Customer Movement with Liz Vanzura (Episode Three)
January 22, 2026

As audiences tune out polished ads and lean into trust, brands are being forced to rethink how they show up for the customer. Research consistently shows that consumers rate peer-created content as more credible than traditional brand messaging, and algorithmic discovery is increasingly rewarding authenticity over polish. With AI reshaping how people search and…

Read More
supply chains
Why the Best Careers Are Designed Like Resilient Supply Chains
January 22, 2026

What do supply chains and community have in common? They both deliver value—when managed with purpose. At their best, they show how intentional systems, meaningful connections, and consistent action turn effort into lasting professional growth. This week on Professional Quotient, listeners hear from Nathan Chaney, founder of Supply Chaney, whose insights bridge the mechanics…

Read More
brand
Bonfire Branding: How Solo Stove Sparked a Customer Movement with Liz Vanzura (Episode Two)
January 22, 2026

As people seek relief from constant digital noise, the backyard has quietly become a modern “third space” in everyday life. Outdoor living, fire pits, and at-home hosting continue to grow as consumers prioritize connection, ease, and experiences that feel meaningful without requiring more complexity. Brands that understand this shift aren’t just selling products—they’re offering…

Read More