Inmarsat, ESA Develop Compact Satellite Terminal for UAVs
January 23, 2023 | InmarsatEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Inmarsat and the European Space Agency (ESA) announced the development of a compact satellite terminal for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as part of the ground-breaking Iris air traffic modernisation programme: paving the way for UAVs to be safely integrated into commercial airspace.
TTP will deliver the core technology for a low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) terminal with an integrated antenna. The advanced terminal, available later this year, will be suitable for almost all UAVs, providing a secure and always-available datalink between uncrewed vehicles, remote operators and air traffic control.
The miniaturised Inmarsat terminal brings scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and will unlock a range of possibilities for flight operators such as telemetry for platform health monitoring, IP voice relay for air traffic control communications, and data services such as video streaming for inspection applications. Optional hybrid connectivity will also be integrated within the terminal and can be utilised where cellular coverage is available, ensuring a seamless experience through the intelligent routing of data and services.
As part of Iris, TTP is also contracted for research and development of UAV safety services, for example last mile tactical deconfliction, known as detect and avoid (DAA). This, alongside the new UAV satcom terminal and technology from other Iris partners, will help deliver all elements needed for UAVs to safely operate in commercial airspace.
Anthony Spouncer, Inmarsat’s Senior Director of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), said “The number of uncrewed vehicles in mixed airspace is expected to increase tenfold over the next 8-10 years. Through the expertise of TTP, Inmarsat’s new UAV terminal will bring a solution that is scalable, less dependent on infrastructure, and digitalised to benefit air traffic modernisation programmes like Iris.”
Tristan Barkley, TTP’s Head of Satellite and Space said “We have a long history of developing core enabling technology platforms for world-leading companies like Inmarsat and are delighted to support Inmarsat and ESA in safely opening up airspace for UAVs.”
Powered by Inmarsat’s award-winning SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) connectivity platform, Iris enables real-time collaboration between pilots, air traffic controllers and airline operation centres by using cost-effective, secure and highly resilient datalink communications. This relieves pressure on congested Very High Frequency (VHF) links and enabling the use of time-based air traffic management which provides significant benefits like reduced flight delays and costs for airlines. This also lowers unnecessary CO2 emissions to support the aviation industry’s journey towards decarbonisation and less congested skies.
Iris supports the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme and will begin flying onboard commercial flights with easyJet in early 2023, making it the first communication service benefiting from a Pan-European certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), secured through the programme’s partner European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP). This will be followed by Iris Global, which extends the programme’s benefits far beyond Europe, leading to larger CO2 reductions and improved airspace capacity across the world.
Suggested Items
VDMA: Machine Vision Navigating Through Uncertain Times
04/18/2024 | VDMAFor over a decade, the European machine vision industry has reported steady growth, with turnover increasing by an average of 9 percent annually between 2012 and 2022. Despite a temporary setback in 2020 (minus 4 percent) due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry rebounded strongly in 2021 (plus 17 percent) and 2022 (plus 11 percent).
Cicor Successfully Completes Acquisition of TT Electronics IoT Solutions Ltd.
04/03/2024 | CicorThe Cicor Group has successfully completed the acquisition of TT Electronics IoT Solutions Ltd. with three production sites in the UK and China.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
03/08/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIt may not officially be March Madness until March 17, but it feels pretty mad to me. Let’s just say it out loud: We are T-4 weeks to the IPC APEX EXPO. As I reviewed the big news of the week, I noticed quite a bit from mil/aero, and I recommend that you look for those headlines. But for now, I am more interested in the IPC Technical Conference and the ways that one engineer says you can get the most from your time spent at the show; Pete Starkey’s take on the world and European markets through the view of the EIPC keynote presenters; the reported growth in the global PCB market and the European EMS market; and what we are actually doing to remedy our workforce problems.
SEMI Europe Honors Schneider Electric and ASM Leaders for Outstanding Contributions to Semiconductor Industry
03/08/2024 | SEMISEMI Europe announced recipients of the SEMI European Award and Special Service Award for 2023 at the SEMI Industry Strategy Symposium Europe (ISS Europe 2024).
European EMS Market Grew to a Record Level in 2023 But May Experience Challenges in 2024
03/07/2024 | IPCAs revealed this week by an annual survey conducted by in4ma and sponsored by IPC Electronics Europe GmbH, the European electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry experienced a robust 11 percent growth last year. Printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) production by EMS companies achieved record revenues of 57.3 billion Euros in 2023, underscoring electronics manufacturing’s vital role in the European economy and industrial base.