Cellular Connectivity

Cellular connectivity is the path to getting DroneOS beyond same-network operation and into real remote deployments.

Goal

Support a companion-computer setup that can connect over:

• 4G
• 5G
• or another carrier-backed modem path

Where this lives

Cellular integration belongs on the companion-computer layer, not the flight controller.

That means the modem and network-management logic should be documented alongside Raspberry Pi and Jetson companion-computer workflows.

Why it matters

Without cellular, control and telemetry workflows are constrained to:

• local Wi-Fi
• local LAN setups
• or other short-range / lab-style environments

Cellular opens the path toward:

• remote field operations
• persistent cloud connectivity
• control beyond the local network footprint

Current documentation stance

This page marks cellular as a hardware and integration area being actively prepared.

It should be documented as:

• a required expansion area for real remote deployments
• especially relevant to the new Jetson path
• separate from the already proven Raspberry Pi 5 baseline

Documentation checklist

This section will eventually need to cover:

• modem hardware options
• USB vs M.2 integration path
• SIM / carrier considerations
• Linux network management on the companion computer
• secure remote access patterns
• deployment-specific antenna and enclosure considerations