SKYTRAC Systems has announced that its Iridium Certus satellite communication system has been successfully utilized by Platform aerospace to facilitate Command and Control (C2), beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) communications, and telemetry streaming for the groundbreaking Vanilla Unmanned UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
Vanilla Unmanned has set a new world record recognized by the FAI (World Air Sports Federation) for the longest unrefueled endurance flight of an unmanned aircraft powered by internal combustion, achieving a remarkable recovery time of 8 days, 50 minutes, and 47 seconds post-launch.This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the Vanilla Unmanned platform, which is classified as a long-endurance Group III UAS designed for extended surveillance and inspection missions.
In a notable collaboration, Vanilla Unmanned was commissioned by NASA to deploy the University of Kansas’ snow radar within the Arctic region to gather critical data on snow and ice thickness. For this mission, Platform Aerospace opted for SKYTRAC’s Iridium Certus mid-band datalink, the DLS-100, to facilitate BVLOS Command and control (C2) and telemetry functionalities.
Utilizing Iridium’s worldwide connectivity and minimal latency, the DLS-100 played a crucial role in supporting the polar mission. It allowed pilots operating from Ground Control Stations (GCS) to maintain real-time C2 with the UAV, while also transmitting commands and receiving flight telemetry, thereby ensuring safe BVLOS operations.
Dr. Dan Edwards,Chief Technology Officer at Platform Aerospace,remarked: “Ensuring effective C2 for aircraft during BVLOS operations has posed notable challenges,as many datalink solutions are constrained by range or geographic limitations. This Arctic flight showcased SKYTRAC’s extensive global coverage, resilience against harsh weather conditions, and provided a compact solution for connectivity during our ultra-long endurance UAV missions.”
Jeff Sherwood, director of Business Progress at SKYTRAC, expressed his congratulations to the Platform Aerospace team for thier record-setting flight, stating: “We take pride in our solutions being instrumental in pushing the limits of UAV capabilities.”
