Cobham completes AVIATOR UAV 500 proof of concept
In a trial that heralds a step change in beyond-line-of-sight UAV imagery transmission, Cobham Aerospace Communications has successfully completed a proof of concept satcom system dubbed AVIATOR UAV 500 (part Cobham's AVIATOR range) with the product concept based on the current UAV 200 system and delivering imagery at a rate of up to 500 kilobits per second (kbps).
The proof of concept has been devised and carried out in response to market demand for a UAV solution that can transmit improved video imagery via satellite network at a higher bandwidth than currently available. Users of smaller MALE and larger STUAVs still require weight to be kept to a minimum, but want to stream better quality video, while maintaining capacity for beyond-line-of-sight control.
The AVIATOR UAV 500 concept is formed of the same terminal as its sister UAV 200 product, combined with a High Gain Antenna, the HGA-6000, as currently installed on a variety of civil and military aircraft. The new system will weigh roughly 3kg, compared to the 1.45kg UAV 200 system, and will support 2.5 x the bandwidth of the existing product.
The proof of concept bench testing was carried out at locations in South Africa and the United Kingdom by Satlink Ltd UK. Cobham has already had expressions of interest in such a system from companies in the areas of defence, security and search & rescue.
Andrew Legg, Sales Director and responsible for Cobham’s UAV related BD activities at Cobham Aerospace Communications, commented: “We have been focused on this end of the market for some time and there has been strong demand for better data bandwidth to allow transmission of improved video imagery to the ground but which would still be light enough to be carried by smaller UAVs. That customer feedback has pushed us to explore this new AVIATOR UAV product which would satisfy this demand and provide the beyond-line-of-sight capability that will make future UAV operation safer and more effective.
"We’re delighted that AVIATOR UAV 500 has passed this POC stage and we look forward to discussing the technology with interested parties.”