Cost-Effective Beyond Visual Line of Sight Drone Communications: Launching Iridium Certus 100 Aerial Data Packages for Drone Pilots
Iridium Certus 100: Revolutionizing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Drones Operations
Iridium Certus 100, a cutting-edge satellite communication technology, is making waves in the world of drone operations, particularly in BVLOS missions. This system offers a reliable, global, and flexible solution for maintaining communication in areas where terrestrial networks are unreliable or absent.
Robust and Versatile Hardware
The RockREMOTE Mini OEM, a device compatible with Iridium Certus 100, is designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions, operating from -40C to 70C and 95% humidity. Weighing just 288g, it boasts a compact form factor and is optimized for low power consumption. All non-RF connections are routed through a single 30-way header, ensuring a streamlined design. The RockREMOTE Mini OEM provides direct board-level integration of the Iridium Certus 9770 module, and its installation requires only four screw mounts and no external gimbals or moving parts.
Global Coverage and Bidirectional Communication
Iridium Certus 100 offers 22/88 Kbps of bi-directional data, low latency, and complete pole-to-pole coverage. This makes it an ideal choice for BVLOS missions, where reliable, bidirectional communication with adequate bandwidth is crucial. The system's L-Band signals penetrate poor weather conditions easily, ensuring continuous connectivity even in adverse conditions.
SATCOM for BVLOS Operations
Satellite communications (SATCOM) play a vital role in BVLOS drone operations. Key requirements include global coverage and continuous link availability, bidirectional communication with adequate bandwidth, robust Command and Control (C2) links, hybrid communication approaches, ground infrastructure and network integration, latency and interference management, scalability and redundancy, and configuration and firmware updates. Iridium Certus 100 meets these requirements, providing a reliable, secure, and continuous communication solution for command, control (C2), telemetry, and data transmission during BVLOS missions.
Real-world Applications
Iridium Certus 100 finds applications in various industries, including agriculture, renewable energy, utilities, emergency response, environmental monitoring, and jurisdictions requiring communication redundancy. For instance, in agriculture, farmers can obtain real-time soil and crop health data from remote fields. During emergency response missions, drones equipped with Iridium Certus 100 connectivity can relay critical situational data from disaster zones or search and rescue sites. Researchers performing environmental monitoring can gather long-range data on wildlife habitats, forestry conditions, and ocean patterns using Iridium Certus 100 connectivity.
Regulatory Compliance
The UK Civil Aviation Authority's guidance calls for dual-link architectures as part of any BVLOS operational authorization. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requires redundant communication systems for BVLOS flights. The FAA's UAS BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee report recommends demonstrating multiple active command-and-control links or an automated failover scheme for BVLOS waivers. Iridium Certus 100 can be used as a primary or failover means of communication, ensuring regulatory compliance.
In conclusion, Iridium Certus 100 offers a robust and versatile solution for satellite connectivity in BVLOS drone operations. Its global, reliable, bidirectional communication infrastructure, coupled with integration with ground control systems, ensures reliable communication and data flow throughout extended-range missions where cellular signals are unavailable or inadequate. A hybrid approach leveraging both satellite and cellular radios provides the best operational flexibility and assurance.
[1] International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) [2] European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) [3] Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) [4] Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [5] 3GPP TR 38.901 V16.4.0 (2020-09)
- With its ability to penetrate poor weather conditions, Iridium Certus 100 offers reliable connectivity even in adverse climatic conditions, contributing significantly to environmental science and space-and-astronomy research.
- In the realm of climate-change mitigation, the compact and low-power consumption RockREMOTE Mini OEM, compatible with Iridium Certus 100, can be utilized in gadgets that monitor and transmit data about renewable energy sources, thereby promoting the adoption of clean technology.
- The potential applications of Iridium Certus 100 in the field of technology go beyond space-and-astronomy and climate-change, as it can contribute to the advancement of telemetry in various industries, including telecommunications and internet of things (IoT).
- As regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continue to establish guidelines for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, the technology-driven solutions like Iridium Certus 100 will remain crucial for ensuring secure connectivity, contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of environmental-science and space-and-astronomy.
