From Dead Zones to Stadiums: Keeping Drones Online with AC-Fleet
Agency: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Jurisdiction: Georgia, USA
Fleet: 9 drones (DJI Matrice 300s & Autel Evo Max 4Ts), supported by 6 pilots
Use Case: Live-stream drone operations at large-scale events, search & rescue, crowd monitoring, SWAT operations, mobile command operations
Executive Summary
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit improved operational communications and live-streaming capabilities using AirgainConnect® AC-Fleet™ and AirgainConnect® Go-Kit Pro. The unit supports public safety missions ranging from large-scale event security and crowd monitoring to search and rescue, SWAT support, and mobile command operations. During highly congested events such as the MLB All-Star Game, the team required reliable connectivity to stream live drone video, support multiple connected devices, and maintain real-time situational awareness. Airgain’s connectivity solutions enabled uninterrupted video streaming, multi-drone operations, and reliable communications in both crowded urban environments and rural coverage gaps.
Cobb County’s drone unit frequently operates in high-traffic public venues such as the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, county fairs and presidential campaign stops. Cellular connectivity during these large-scale events can suffer due to congestion and coverage challenges. Live-streaming drone footage is critical for safety and situational awareness, but maintaining reliable connectivity has always been a challenge, especially when operating multiple drones, staff devices, and a laptop simultaneously.
They needed a solution that:
The Drone Unit deployed AirgainConnect AC-Fleet and AirgainConnect Go-Kit Pro to support vehicle-based and portable communications requirements.
The combined solution enabled:
The platform supported simultaneous connections between:
This allowed command personnel and operators to maintain real-time visibility into drone operations regardless of mission type or location.
An all-in-one 5G gateway combining modem, GPS/GNSS, Wi-Fi 6, and high-performance antennas. Supports up to four eSIM profiles for seamless multi-carrier redundancy. The gateway was installed on the vehicle roof using a mag-mount for ease of deployment.
A portable, battery-powered version of the same integrated solution, housed in compact rugged case suitable in scenarios where vehicle-mounted is not practical.
At the MLB All-Star Games, AC-Fleet delivered uninterrupted live video—managing two drones, 2 mobile phones, an Axon De-Drone trailer and Fotokite Drones, and a laptop even during peak traffic. Usual carrier solutions that use mobile phones or hotspot devices failed.
AC-Fleet supported multi-drone, multi-feed monitoring using platforms like Axon Air—where operators can view map overlays, drone status, and live video feeds in real-time.
A destination known for poor reception—near a large church in West Cobb—proved no match for AC-Fleet; live streaming performed flawlessly where nothing else worked.
Other use cases include crowd monitoring (state fairs, public protests), search and rescue missions, and operational coordination with regional helicopter units, especially in inaccessible or time-sensitive scenarios.
Another mobile surveillance system experienced issues with its built-in connectivity. Once connected to the AC-Fleet via Ethernet, the system performed better than it had all weekend.
| Operational Area | Impact |
|---|---|
| Live video streaming | Reliable operation during large public events |
| Multi-drone operations | Simultaneous support for multiple aircraft and devices |
| Rural connectivity | Reliable performance in traditional dead zones |
| Public safety missions | Support for search and rescue, crowd monitoring, and tactical operations |
| Mobile command operations | Enhanced situational awareness and coordination |
| Third-party systems | Improved performance for connected surveillance technologies |
Public safety agencies increasingly depend on drones to provide real-time intelligence during critical operations. Whether supporting large public events, emergency response, search-and-rescue missions, or tactical deployments, decision-makers require immediate access to reliable video and operational data.
Connectivity is now a foundational component of successful drone operations. Without reliable communications, agencies risk losing situational awareness at the moments when information matters most.
This deployment demonstrates how resilient mobile communications platforms can support public safety agencies operating in congested urban environments, remote coverage areas, and mission-critical scenarios.
