EchoStar, SkyFive team for S-band dual-link drone control

How do you deliver multiple, diverse command and control links to a small, uncrewed aircraft, fully integrated in controlled airspace? SkyFive and EchoStar have successfully concluded a series of flight tests, in partnership with Airbus, to combine S-band satellite and terrestrial links and deliver that functionality. The tests are part of a project to commercialize urban air mobility within and between cities – an ambition that depends on redundant satellite and terrestrial connectivity.

We’ll soon be able to put a single module into a remotely piloted urban aircraft for always on terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G service – entering a new era of anytime, anywhere connectivity.

– Telemaco Melia, vice president and general manager, EchoStar Mobile

The testing integrated a SkyFive antenna the size of a postage stamp with EchoStar’s S-band satellite antenna. Both were linked to a Hughes 4510 S-band modem on the aircraft. Satellite communications was delivered via an S-band link through the EchoStar XXI geostationary satellite.

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Delivering the independent control links is a critical step for meeting ICAO standards related to safety-critical command and control services in the advanced air mobility (AAM) segment. As Dr. Markus Klügel, Scientist Wireless Communications, Airbus Central Research & Technology, explains, “Compliance with ICAO PBCS requirements is an important step to generate trust that existing technologies can satisfy aeronautic safety requirements.” The SkyFive/EchoStar/Hughes hardware’s light weight, low profile, and low power draw make the combined solution viable even on smaller aircraft.

This is the first time that a drone was controlled over a C2 link underpinned by an A2G network and a satellite link used in tandem. The demonstrated communications performance is impressive, and for SkyFive this is yet another step of making our A2G technology commercially available to the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem.

– Dr. Michael Ohm, chief technology officer, SkyFive AG

Moreover, the use of licensed S-band spectrum provides resilience and some protection from interference. In this particular case, the S-band frequencies used included a slight shift in the center frequencies, allowing the satellite and ground connections to operate simultaneously over the same S-band (2.1 GHz) frequency without interfering with each other. This approach is similar to Inmarsat‘s European Aviation Network (EAN) hybrid S-band solution. That solution includes hundreds of terrestrial towers managed by Deutsche Telekom.

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Prior to integration with the EchoStar S-band terminal, SkyFive conducted tests of this new modem in Australia, partnered with Pivotel. Those tests confirmed the predicted throughput, latency, reliability, and consistency of the solution in a real environment. The companies anticipate expansion of the Australian network during 2023.

While the EchoStar XXI satellite only offers coverage in Europe, the EchoStar Lyra constellation under development could provide a global S-band service. Combined with SkyFive’s experience partnering with local telcoms to deploy ground infrastructure across that same spectrum, this solution could expand significantly in the AAM segment.

SkyFive has air-to-ground programs or trials in China, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

More on SkyFive’s ATG evolution:

• SkyFive targets ATG network expansion on a global scale
• SkyFive secures further funding for network expansion