Kea Aerospace Partners with SKYTRAC for Enhanced UAV operations
Kea Aerospace has made a strategic decision to integrate SKYTRAC’s midband Iridium Certus Satellite Communications (SATCOM) terminal into its High Altitude and Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV),known as Kea Atmos.
Innovative Design of Kea Atmos
The Kea Atmos is a cutting-edge, solar-powered fixed-wing UAV engineered for extended flights in the stratosphere, enabling it to capture high-resolution aerial imagery consistently. Once airborne, the aircraft ascends to an remarkable altitude of 65,000 feet, where it can remain operational for several months. This UAV is equipped to carry specialized payloads that gather valuable data for Kea Aerospace’s clientele.
Advanced Command and Control Capabilities
to facilitate remote piloting in the stratosphere, Kea Aerospace has opted for SKYTRAC’s UAV Data Link System (DLS-100), which supports Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Command and control functionalities. leveraging the Iridium satellite network, the DLS-100 ensures that Kea Atmos maintains global SATCOM connectivity with an impressive 99.9% uptime, irrespective of weather conditions or the distance from the Ground Control Station (GCS).
real-Time Data Transmission
The DLS-100 midband transceiver enables uplink speeds of 22 Kbps and downlink speeds of 88 Kbps, along with capabilities for photo transfer. This technology is crucial for the real-time transmission of imagery and fleet data, enhancing the efficiency of Kea Aerospace’s mission operations.
Expert Insights on Stratospheric Operations
“Operating in the stratosphere allows us to achieve cost-effective and high-resolution aerial imaging,but it presents unique challenges for BVLOS operations,” stated Mark Rocket,CEO of Kea Aerospace. “The low latency BVLOS Command and Control capabilities provided by SKYTRAC’s Iridium Certus service are essential for us to develop a safe,efficient,and sustainable approach to aerial imaging.”
Optimized for Versatility
“The robust DLS-100 is designed with size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) optimization, making it ideal for various platforms, including Kea Aerospace’s advanced Kea Atmos,” remarked jeff Sherwood, director of Business Progress at SKYTRAC. “We take pride in delivering the reliable global SATCOM connectivity necessary to fully harness the advantages that autonomous vehicles offer across multiple applications, such as surveying and aerial imaging.”
