Doodle Labs has introduced its innovative Smart Radio technology,which facilitates a robust broadband data connection essential for long-range video streaming and supports autonomous operations in personal aerial vehicles being developed by Kitty Hawk.
The Kitty Hawk Flyer is an electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft designed to operate like a conventional airplane without requiring a runway.The company aims to launch the Flyer in New Zealand while collaborating with various governments globally to broaden its reach. The Smart Radio’s design allows for interchangeable units across different models, accommodating any frequency mandated by local authorities. This adaptability simplifies the process of entering diverse markets.
Currently, the Flyer boasts a maximum flight duration of 20 minutes, necessitating a high-capacity radio to sustain connectivity. Given the Flyer’s notable speeds, low latency is crucial. The Smart Radio is engineered with a compact size, lightweight design, and low power consumption (SWaP), alongside features like mesh networking and multicast capabilities.
The Smart Radio series of routers and gateways was specifically crafted for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and robotic applications. These compact radios can function across a frequency range of 100 MHz to 4 GHz, enabling the Flyer to transmit 4K video from distances of up to 6 miles (10 km).The integration process for the Kitty Hawk team was minimal, as the Smart radio employs an Ethernet interface and comes equipped with Doodle Labs’ proprietary BII (Broadband for Industrial Internet of Things) software pre-installed.
BII is designed to enhance the radio’s performance for UAS applications. It features advanced Quality of Service (QoS) and prioritization for multimedia traffic,ensuring low-latency Command and Control (C2) alongside high-definition video streaming on the same connection.The self-healing and self-forming mobile mesh capabilities provide a reliable network with redundancy, which will be increasingly vital as the number of aerial vehicles continues to rise.
