GPS World

Tag: Cobham

  • UAV Navigation provides flight-control solution for VTOL platforms

    UAV Navigation provides flight-control solution for VTOL platforms

    UAV Navigation has developed a flight-control solution specifically for vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) fixed-wing drones.

    Interest in using VTOL platforms has grown in the past few years, according to the company. A hybrid between fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms, VTOLs provide operators with versatility.

    The company’s fixed- and rotary-wing development teams worked together on the flight-control solution. Technological capabilities from other solutions — referenced navigation or the development of missions in environments without GNSS signals and under threat of jamming attack — have been incorporated in an organic way to facilitate a complete and reliable system.

    The hardware developed by UAV Navigation has the MIL-STD-810F and MIL-STD 461F certification, proving the system has been tested by an independent body that certifies its extraordinary behavior in adverse conditions.

    “Our extensive experience with fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms allows us to know the strengths and challenges that these platforms face as a mission is performed,” said Miguel Ángel de Frutos, CTO of UAV Navigation. “Taking this as a starting point, we have managed to develop a specific solution for VTOL platforms that not only has the same technological capabilities as our existing solutions, but also enables missions to be carried out with the highest possible security.”

    One of the main challenges with VTOL platforms is the transition from vertical to horizontal flight and vice versa. UAV Navigation’s solution facilitates and automates this critical moment as much as possible, while optimizing battery use. A series of safety and emergency procedures allow the aircraft to always reach a safe landing zone and overcome possible errors in the engine.

    An adaptable VTOL software architecture allows users to customize and configure the solution through the ground control station.

    Partnership with AnsuR Technologies

    logosUAV Navigation is partnering with AnsuR Technologies to enable streaming high-definition (HD) video from small UAVs carrying a 200-kbps satcom terminal.

    With the partnership, the Asmira software solution fro AnsuR provides the ability to optimize sending video and images for satellite communications. Asmira, together with the Cobham Aviator UAV 200 and the antenna pointing solution Polar-300, provided by UAV Navigation, can deliver cost-effective high quality video transmission for small satellite platforms.

    Integrated into the platform’s onboard network, UAV Navigation’s Polar AHRS delivers the attitude and steering information of the platform so the Cobham device can establish contact with the satellite.

    The Polar AHRS, a device designed to meet the demanding needs of the aeronautical sector, includes all the necessary sensors in a compact device to provide precise information to the servos in a gimbal or an antenna, enabling its control. Once a stable satellite link is established, the Asmira software delivers HD-quality video at rates down to 100 kbps and can support SD quality below 50kbps.

    The partnership enables good-quality streaming for long-range surveillance, infrastructure monitoring and search-and-rescue missions where videos are critical.

  • Cobham to supply anti-jam GPS solution for US Army UAS

    Cobham to supply anti-jam GPS solution for US Army UAS

    Logo: Cobham

    Cobham Aerospace Connectivity has been selected by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Army to provide the anti-jam GPS systems for the MQ-1C ER Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platform.

    As part of a multi-domain operation equipment suite that is compatible with existing GE-ER aircraft, the DACU-8 capability provides assured positioning, navigation and timing to the Gray Eagle ER UAS, weapons and sensors. According to Cobham, this modification to the Gray Eagle ER UAS ensures the platform can provide reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition and attack capability, even in a GPS contested environment.

    The digital antenna control unit (DACU) and controlled radiation pattern array antenna system were chosen for their performance in jammed and benign environments, as well as their ability to output direction finding to on-board systems, Cobham said. This direction-finding capability allows the system to perform as a sensor, enabling the platform to identify, locate and respond to the jamming threat.

    “GA-ASI and Cobham collaborated very closely on integration activities and on-platform performance evaluations to deliver cutting edge technology for the U.S. Army,” said Matt Cadwell, North America sales director at Cobham. “Cobham is very proud to support GA-ASI’s leadership through the ‘survive, persist and thrive’ evolution in denied environments. The DACU-8 capability ensures GE-ER’s ability to persist in a contested environment, providing critical RSTA capability in a contested environment, supporting the Army, as well as the joint force.”

  • Cobham receives Inmarsat type approval for new terminals

    Cobham receives Inmarsat type approval for new terminals

    Cobham Explorer 323 and Explorer 6075LX terminals receive Inmarsat type approval

    Two Cobham SATCOM land satellite terminals have received Inmarsat type approval. The low-profile vehicular Cobham Explorer 323 BGAN terminal and the auto-point “fly-away” Cobham Explorer 6075LX VSAT terminal are now fully operational on the Inmarsat network with commercial shipments of each beginning immediately.

    Explorer-323. (Photo: Cobham)
    Explorer-323. (Photo: Cobham)

    The new Explorer 323 terminal represents the first class 12, electronically steerable terminal for use on Inmarsat’s L-band Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN). It combines the slimmest form factor of any vehicular BGAN terminal with a number of new innovative features and sets a new standard in robustness due to its lack of moving parts. In conjunction with Inmarsat’s highly reliable network, offering up to 99.9% uptime, it promises a new standard in mobile communications to organisations operating in remote locations across a wide array of industries.

    The class 12 terminal features speeds of up to 384kbps, support for BGAN (data and voice) and BGAN M2M (data) operations, and an integrated antenna and receiver, meaning only a rooftop unit is needed. Additionally, the Explorer 323 has an integrated Wi-Fi Hotspot for setup, management and data access. Developed to integrate seamlessly with Cobham’s PRISM PTT+ offering, the Explorer 323 will enable telemetry and voice communications as well as other uses in remote rail operations, utilities, mining, aid and NGO operations, agriculture, public safety and emergency response.

    Explorer-6075. (Photo: Cobham)
    Explorer-6075. (Photo: Cobham)

    Inmarsat has also approved the new auto-point ‘fly-away’ 0.75m Cobham Explorer 6075LX VSAT terminal for its high-speed Ka-band Global Xpress service. The new terminal offers the most reliable and stable connection in its class and features a simplified design, enhanced usability, quick setup and built-in WiFi. With a dynamic auto-pointing correction the terminal maintains its connection even in windy conditions or when pushed or moved, optimising its connection constantly. The Explorer 6075LX also features a considerable reduction in weight versus the Explorer 5075GX for greater portability and will support high-bandwidth applications in broadcasting, resilience and field-office operation.

    “We are proud to offer these two game-changing terminals to our partners and customers,” said Mike Carter, president of Inmarsat Enterprise. “Their launch follows an important period of industry consultation, innovation and collaboration between Cobham and Inmarsat. With the Explorer 323 ideal for vehicular tracking and communications and the Explorer 6075 optimised for high-bandwidth operations, both terminals improve upon their predecessors and are set to make ultra-reliable connectivity easier to access in the remotest areas, wherever it is needed most.”

    “These two new terminals from Cobham prove that there continues to be innovation occurring in both our L-band and Global Xpress networks,” said Todd McDonell, president of Inmarsat Global Government. “For government users, the 6075LX (or GX6075) provides a fast to set up, easy-to-use, automatic acquisition broadband terminal ideal for first responders who need to access communications at a scene quickly.

    “In addition, the Explorer 323 provides government users with a way to maintain on-the-move connectivity regardless of the situation,” McDonell said. “When fixed networks become disabled or degraded, due to events such as natural disasters, the Explorer 323 provides an ideal, low-profile system for routing radio and data connectivity and can be integrated with the emergency services’ existing radio and data networks. We thank Cobham for bringing these products to market. We believe that they will help to deliver new capability for a number of government departments and agencies.”

    Inmarsat owns and operates mobile telecommunications satellite networks around the globe, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band.

    Inmarsat has provided global, L-band services for many decades, which are used by governments, the maritime and aviation industries, and commercial users on land, in sectors ranging from mining and agriculture to rail and transportation.

    The frequencies used by Inmarsat to deliver these services are different to those used for GPS/GNSS. All terminals approved for use over Inmarsat’s L-band network (and their other networks) conform to international standards.

    In the case of GPS, Inmarsat has exceed these standards by a considerable margin.

  • Cobham displays antenna system at AUVSI’s Xponential 2016

    Cobham‘s Sunita Shah discusses the company’s AESA (actively electronically scanned array) antenna system at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s Xponential show, held May 2-5 in new Orleans.

  • Cobham unveils Aviator UAV 200 at Xponential 2016

    Andrew Legg of Cobham Satcom discusses the company’s satellite communications technology at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International‘s Xponential 2016 show, held May 2-5 in New Orleans.

    The AVIATOR UAV 200 system — debuted at the show — weighs about 3.2 pounds, which is 76 percent lighter than comparable products on the market, according to the company. It delivers Inmarsat Class 4 SwiftBroadband services in a low-SWAP package.

    The product was designed to significantly enhance a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’s (TUAV) performance, range and payload capability by enabling operators to take advantage of the higher speed connectivity from satellite networks.

  • Cobham showcases multi-axis gimbals at AUVSI’s Xponential 2016

    Cobham exhibited its series of multi-axis gimbal systems at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International‘s Xponential 2016 show, held May 2-5 in New Orleans. Cobham’s Alex Doig explains that the system can be stabilized for ground, air or shipboard platforms.

  • Cobham Launches Two ‘Sailor’ Marine Receivers

    Cobham Launches Two ‘Sailor’ Marine Receivers

    SAILOR 6560 GNSS_500x500
    The Sailor 6560 GNSS System is delivered with the Sailor 6004 Control Panel and the corresponding Sailor 6285 GNSS Antenna or Sailor 6286 DGNSS Antenna.

    Cobham SATCOM has launched two new Sailor satellite navigation receivers. Both the Sailor 656X GNSS and new Sailor 657X DGNSS (Differential GNSS) are black-box products designed to be part of a system Cobham SATCOM refers to as its “multi-function universe.”

    The advanced touchscreen Sailor 6004 Control Panel at the heart of the Multi-Function Universe provides full control for all products connected to it from a single device. The Sailor 656X GNSS and Sailor 657X DGNSS join the Sailor 6391 Navtex and Sailor 628X AIS as new generation Sailor products designed to work with the Sailor 6004 Control Panel. Operation of all systems connected to the Sailor 6004 Control Panel is done by selecting the icon for the product on the touchscreen, providing access to set-up, functions and diagnostics.

    “The Multi-Function Universe approach means that a variety of products can all be accessed from a single screen on the bridge and anywhere else a repeater is needed, making installation far more flexible than with traditional products that all require their own screen. The approach also saves space on the bridge, and importantly, makes the life of maintenance engineers easier as they have a single point of entry to the network,” explains Claus Hornbech, Business Manager, Cobham SATCOM.

    The Sailor 656X GNSS and the Sailor 657X DGNSS collect satellite data from any available navigation satellites including GPS and GLONASS and distribute it to a variety of on board systems such as; ECDIS (Electronic Chart DISPlay System), INS (Integrated Navigation System), GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress & Safety System), SATCOM (Satellite Communication System), MCS (Master Clock Systems) and PABX (Telephone Exchanges).

    Cobham SATCOM offers four variants of its new satellite navigation products, all of which are designed 100% in house. The Sailor 6560 GNSS System and Sailor 6570 DGNSS System are delivered with the Sailor 6004 Control Panel and the corresponding Sailor 6285 GNSS Antenna or Sailor 6286 DGNSS Antenna, while the Sailor 6561 GNSS Basic and Sailor 6571 DGNSS Basic are delivered with the antennas only.

    All four variants use the same proprietary Sailor 6588 DGNSS Receiver, which provides highly accurate data, enhanced by means of Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) from various areas including WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) for the United States, EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) in Europe, and systems from Japan, India and Russia. The Sailor 6285 GNSS Antenna and Sailor 6286 DGNSS Antenna are also both new, designed and manufactured according to Cobham SATCOM’s quality standards.

    “The accuracy and availability of satellite positioning and timing data is vital to vessel safety as so many critical navigation and communication systems rely on it to operate,” adds Jan Kragh Michelsen, VP Maritime Business Development, Cobham SATCOM. “All elements, from the black-box to the antennas, multi-function display and the user-interface of the systems are new and developed 100 percent in house at Cobham SATCOM, so customers can be confident in the reliability of our new GNSS and DGNSS products, in addition to our revolutionary Multi-Function Universe operating concept.”

  • Cobham Offers Aeroflex Tester for ADS-B

    The ATC-5000NG NextGen ATC/DME Test Set.
    The ATC-5000NG NextGen ATC/DME Test Set.

    Cobham AvComm, formerly the Aeroflex AvComm business unit, has introduced the ATC-5000NG NextGen ATC/DME Test Set.

    Designed for engineering development, design validation, manufacturing and return-to-service test applications, the ATC-5000NG is the replacement product for the legacy SDX-2000 and the ATC-1400A/S-1403DL. The software defined radio architecture supports more transponder RTCA DO-181E test capability than the legacy products did and has new capability needed to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen test requirements including ADS-B (RTCA DO-260B) and UAT (RTCA DO-282).

    ADS-B is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast for next-generation (NextGen) aircraft navigation. The FAA has mandated that aircraft operating in airspace that now requires a Mode C transponder must be equipped with ADS-B Out by Jan. 1, 2020.

    “We are excited to introduce the new ATC-5000NG which offers our customers the most comprehensive test set available in the market today. This will help our customers prepare for new requirements driven by the FAA’s NextGen and Europe’s SESAR projects,” said Ryan Panos, vice president and general manager of Cobham AvComm.

    In September 2014, Cobham completed its acquisition of Aeroflex for $1.46 billion.