Inmarsat, Heron to Enable Uncrewed Aircraft in Singaporean Airspace
March 17, 2023 | InmarsatEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Inmarsat has welcomed Singapore-based Heron AirBridge, a specialist in Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) in the Asia Pacific region, as the latest company to join its Velaris Partner Network, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today at Drones Asia.
Working alongside regional regulators, the two companies will enable the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into Singapore’s commercial airspace by integrating Inmarsat Velaris, a highly reliable command and control (C2) datalink built for UAVs, with Heron’s AirBridge, a complete and flexible UTM system.
Inmarsat will also supply Heron with its low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) Velaris satellite terminals for UAVs, delivering the secure datalink needed for Beyond Visible Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The collaboration will mark the first deployment of Velaris technology in Asia Pacific and trials will commence later this year.
In tandem, Inmarsat and Heron will leverage the Velaris Partner Network, working with stakeholders across the aviation community to develop regulatory frameworks and technologies that will boost Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) numbers in Singapore’s airspace and provide a blueprint for successful integration that can be rolled out worldwide.
Joel Klooster, Senior Vice President, Aircraft Operations & Safety, Inmarsat Aviation, said “Uncrewed aviation is a sector poised for growth. The air vehicles and communications technology are ready, but unlocking their full potential hinges on consistent, global regulatory progress.
“Together with Heron, we are creating a blueprint for the integrated airspace of the future. Inmarsat’s Velaris technology, coupled with Heron’s regional domain expertise, will ensure operators of airspace and UAVs have the tools they need to drive regulatory acceptance in the region and beyond.”
Ryan Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, Heron AirBridge, added “Our partnership with Inmarsat is a major step towards increasing UAV integration into Singapore’s crowded airspace and updating regulation so that our efforts can be replicated worldwide. Working together, we look to establish Singapore as a world leader in this burgeoning sector, sharing our vision of creating value through the utilisation of low-level airspace globally. Inmarsat was the sure partner in powering the movement, with Velaris ensuring that we’re equipped with the core network and datalink capabilities we need to drive UAV integration.”
Suggested Items
EMA Webinar: Next Generation MCAD/ECAD for SOLIDWORKS
05/09/2024 | EMA Design AutomationLearn how the MCAD and ECAD experts at Hawk Ridge and EMA can help you solve your MCAD/ECAD integration challenges with this unique collaboration environment.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Transitioning Into Automation With DIS
05/08/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOPublisher Barry Matties and DIS Sales Director Jesse Ziomek discuss the company's shift toward automation, tackling issues such as limited floor space and integration costs while showcasing the advantages their SAM automation system has to offer. Also discussed are workforce challenges and return on investment considerations. As Jesse states, "DIS's goal is to offer solutions for smaller shops," and underscores the user-friendly, no-integration-costs aspect of their system.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Circuit Board Testing Strategies and the Impact of AI
05/08/2024 |Editor Marcy LaRont speaks with Bert Horner, president of The Test Connection, about the importance of strategic planning and design-for-test (DFT). Bert touches on some common mistakes that occur when DFT is not adequately considered early on. The discussion outlines an overarching industry need for a culture shift toward increasingly higher levels of integration and collaboration. Bert mentions that AI now has an influence on testing, as everywhere else, and announces his forthcoming book.
Siemens Delivers New Solido IP Validation Suite
05/07/2024 | SiemensSiemens Digital Industries Software introduced Solido™ IP Validation Suite software, a comprehensive, automated signoff solution for quality assurance across all design intellectual property (IP) types, including standard cells, memories and IP blocks.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Aegis Software Partners With Arch Systems
04/29/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOJason Spera, CEO of Aegis Software, discusses the company's collaboration with Arch Systems to develop the Aria X2 Bridge, a tool designed to boost continuous improvement. Spera delves into how Arch's AI enhances the work of human engineers, the harmonious relationship between Arch and Aegis, the integration process, and the customer experience. As Spera explains, the integration of Factory Logics and the Aria Bridge is simple, benefiting existing Factory Logics customers with pre-existing seed data.