Beyond Visible Line of Sight

Control. Navigation. Surveillance.

Connectivity for Unmanned Air Vehicles

AVIATOR UAV 200, a revolutionary new solution from Cobham, redefines UAV satcom connectivity by integrating everything into one compact, lightweight box.

Weighing just 1.45kg, AVIATOR UAV 200 is a remarkable 76% lighter than anything comparable on the market - yet still delivers Inmarsat Class 4 services, up to 200kbps data and near real time control of data channels. Real time surveillance just got lighter!

Tactical UAVs depend upon lightweight components to maximise range, endurance and operational use. However, until now, the size, weight and power requirements of Inmarsat satcom hardware made it impossible to take advantage of the higher speed connectivity from today’s satellite networks on smaller UAVs.

The world’s smallest, lightest Inmarsat UAV solution

Beyond line of sight

For true surveillance and monitoring, it is vital that operators get near real time visual feedback of the video captured. Previously, tactical UAVs had limited connectivity, meaning that all viewing and decision-making had to be within line of sight or after the airframe returned, by which time the data will often have lost its tactical or commercial value.

Enhanced aircraft control

With AVIATOR UAV 200, operators can now send flight commands to the UAV in real time. By making immediate route adjustments as and when necessary, not only does this significantly enhance mission flexibility but it can help to protect the UAV and other airspace users should it need to avoid potential threats or return to base.

Greater payload flexibility

A tactical UAV’s combined weight has a large impact on its endurance and operational flexibility. By providing a satcom solution that is smaller and lighter than anything bandwidth-comparable on the market, AVIATOR UAV 200 not only improves the UAV’s range but significantly expands its payload capability and thereby its commerical and strategic value.

Getting the most out of bandwidth

On the ground, bandwidth is cheap and plentiful. With all that’s involved in delivering connectivity to moving aircraft via satellites orbiting 22,000 miles above the earth, it’s a fact that bandwidth in the air costs more and is often not as fast. If you’ve ever been frustrated by how often a feature-length movie buffers over a ‘fast’ home Internet connection, you might think a 200 Kbps satellite connection would be pretty limiting.

To the surprise (and delight) of many in aviation, a lot can be done with the utility of a global, 200 Kbps satellite connection. Every day, all over the world, UAV operators – militaries, law enforcement, firefighting agencies, and more – routinely use lower bandwidth satellite connections to transmit large files and live video with as little as 100 Kbps.

How do they do it? Success in maximizing bandwidth comes from specifically defining your needs and optimizing the connectivity setup to follow. By applying a little know-how, you can legitimately stream 1080p HD footage over the UAV 200.

The secret lies in high-performance video Codecs, data compression techniques and clever software systems – along with simple techniques such as strategically lowering video resolution, frame rate and setting a region of interest. Systems often transmit only time-critical data over the satellite link – providing the real-time insight you need – while storing full-resolution files for download back on the ground.

Reducing frame rate alone can boost transmission capability by as much as 30x with a 30fps camera. And with SwiftBroadband, you also have the option of choosing a “streaming” class of airtime service – which gives you prioritized access and guarantees the amount of bandwidth you’ll get at all times.

Visit AnsuR Technologies to learn more about optimising bandwidth over the AVIATOR UAV 200.  

TALK TO OUR SPECIALISTS

Ask your supplier about AVIATOR UAV 200, or email satcom.aviator@cobham.com.