Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,792 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,975 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,975 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,215 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,792 cutting edge ideas.

WiFi-Expanding Drones

This WiFi Drone Will Improve Communications in Disaster-Struck Areas

— August 5, 2014 — Tech
Researchers at the University of North Texas developed a WiFi drone that is capable of supplying wireless Internet coverage to disaster-struck areas. The drone will be able to supply WiFi with a range of up to 5 km, a significant improvement over existing alternatives.

Natural disasters often lead to damage to communications infrastructure such as cell towers, making it difficult for response teams to communicate with each other and keep victims informed.

Whereas typical WiFi antennas usually have a range of only around 100 m, the researchers were able to extend this by developing a special directional antenna that rotates to align with targets, allowing for a stronger communications link without signal disruption.

The WiFi drone technology could even give rise to an entirely new form of wireless communication with implications beyond disaster response.
Trend Themes
1. Extended-range Wifi - Developing special directional antennas that extend the range of WiFi signals presents disruptive innovation opportunities for improved internet connectivity in remote areas.
2. Disaster Response Technology - Creating WiFi drones for disaster response could lead to disruptive innovation opportunities for enhancing communication capabilities in disaster-struck areas.
3. Advanced Wireless Communication - Exploring new forms of wireless communication through WiFi drones can open up disruptive innovation opportunities for transforming how we connect and communicate.
Industry Implications
1. Telecommunications - The development of extended-range WiFi antennas can revolutionize the telecommunications industry by improving internet connectivity in remote and disaster-affected areas.
2. Drone Technology - The introduction of WiFi drones for disaster response drives disruptive innovation opportunities within the drone technology industry to enhance communication capabilities.
3. Emergency Management - The use of WiFi drones in disaster response presents disruptive innovation opportunities within the emergency management industry to improve communication infrastructure during crises.
1.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness