SKYTRAC Systems Ltd. entered the unmanned aviation segment with the development and launch of its Integrated Mission System 350 (IMS-350) terminal.

The terminal features the Iridium Certus 9810 modem, enabling what the company describes as assured, pole-to-pole communications for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, Command and Control (C2) applications, payload health monitoring, live video streaming, data transmission, AI-enabled sensor fusion, and more. By leveraging the recent partnership with Iridium as a value-added manufacturer, reseller, and service provider, SKYTRAC expands its market focus beyond fixed-wing and rotorcraft into the unmanned aviation markets.

Through Iridium Global Line of Sight (GLOS) Certus services, SKYTRAC’s Integrated Mission System 350 (IMS-350) will provide 352 kbps uplink and 704 kbps downlink broadband speeds with latency under 500 milliseconds through a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connection.

Derived from SKYTRAC’s certified Satellite Communications (Satcom) avionics, the IMS-350 incorporates numerous interfaces for a flexible architecture for systems integrators and OEMs. These include multiple Ethernet, ARINC-429, RS-232, RS-485, discrete input/output ports, and a CAN bus which allows microcontrollers and devices to communicate effortlessly.

“With the launch of the IMS-350, SKYTRAC now provides intelligent connectivity solutions to the manned and unmanned aviation markets,” notes Jan van der Heul, SKYTRAC Vice President of Sales, in a statement. “The IMS-350, which leverages Iridium Certus, is an innovative, powerful, and future-proof solution that fits directly into SKYTRAC’s Iridium Certus product portfolio, complementing our many other applications and capabilities.”

The IMS-350, which features a multicore server, supports sensor-matched applications that can parse collected data to determine what to transmit in real-time. The integrated smart router dynamically manages data traffic by prioritizing data throughput, allowing for efficient use of Satcom and cellular channels, improving operational efficiencies for a wide range of UAS mission profiles in all high-value industry segments, including aerial firefighting, offshore oil and gas, search and rescue, disaster relief, law enforcement, military and government, and more.

The company describes IMS-350 as the lightest and smallest high-speed Iridium Certus Satcom terminal available today. For operations in urban areas, the incorporated cellular and Wi-Fi radios provide terrestrial connectivity options.

The IMS-350 program has secured launch customers operating as UAV manufacturers, systems integrators, Drone-as-a-Service providers, and scientific research institutions.

(Photo: SkyTrac)