AirMast - Tethered Drone Solution

SPH ENGINEERING

INNOVATIVE SKY MAST FOR COMMUNICATION AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

SPH Engineering presents new addition to continuously evolving drone market - a ready-to-fly tethered drone system AirMast. Compared to some conventional mast systems AirMast is easy and quickly deployable mean to bring up sensors in the sky, not requiring operators specific technical knowledge. AirMast can provide significant support for most search and rescue, environment protection, telecommunication and video surveillance activities.

AIRMAST

AirMast consists of ground module with intelligent winch system and a drone with lightweight 100 meter tether, consisting of cables for power and data transmission. Powered from ground by any type of power generator, the drone can stay in the air for extended period of time with no reliance on drone-batteries. AirMast is operated with UgCS’s ground-based command control software run on a durable tablet.

Compared to some conventional mast and tower systems, AirMast can be deployed by a single person in less than 5minutes. AirMast is capable of carrying payload of up to 1,5kg from video camera, to diverse sensing devices or mesh network extenders. High-bandwidth data channel is a part of the tether, which enables high-resolution video or other data transmission from the drone to the ground system.

Depending on the payload the AirMast can be used by private business or governmental organisation, ranging from perimeter control, event management, communication and cellular applications for strategic facilities, oil & gas pipelines and rigs, traffic control, emergency response, firefighting, mines, forests and national parks, disaster areas and mass events like a virtual mast.

Further more, when paired with an optional Rajant BreadCrumb drone module, it can quickly deploy a network ‘tower’ for as long as necessary, all the while being mobile, too. Together with UgCS, this setup allows for the deployment and management of a mesh network of drones. In addition, flight data as well as video streams from multiple drone operators in the field can be quickly sent to a UgCS ground station operator, allowing to scan a large area in a short amount of time using drones, something that is very useful for search and rescue operations, photogrammetry and other fields. Rajant has married the latest innovations in flight with a communication network capable of taking drones greater distances, and for longer periods of time. Rajant solution eliminates problems with weak radio systems. The AirMast Tether System with BreadCrumb module gives the operators an easy way to establish a broadband network for their drones. With Rajant’s wireless nodes, they have a secure system that can scale with various payloads, giving them true mobility. In kinetic mesh, everything is constantly moving, including the infrastructure, allowing an expansive network footprint.

Current ground-based version of the AirMast system uses a popular drone platform that is widely available, flight-tested and reliable - DJI S900 , M600 together with Elistair SAFE-T powering system.

KEY FEATURES

GROUND MODULE WITH AUTOMATIC WINCH

• 100m tether cable consisting of lightweight cables for

power and data transmission

• Onboard module

• Drone and its payload selected to match the application.

• Tablet with easy to use ground control system.

WIDE CHOICE OF PAYLOADS

AirMast is capable of carrying payload of up to 1,5kg, for example: video camera, thermal camera or radio repeater and other. The payload can be adjusted to requirements of application field. According to the payload the system can be used by private business or governmental organisation, ranging from perimeter control, event management, communication and cellular applications for strategic facilities, oil & gas pipelines and rigs, traffic control, emergency response, firefighting, mines, forests and national parks, disaster areas and mass events. Available payloads include:

• DJI Zenmuse Z3 (EO camera with optical zoom)

• DJI Zenmuse XT (IR camera)

• DJI Zenmuse X3 (basic EO camera with fixed lens)

• Rajant DX-1 mesh node

• Professional or custom payloads according to Clients

requirements

EASE OF USE

Compared to some conventional mast and tower systems, AirMast is easy and quickly deployable mean to bring up sensors in the sky, not requiring operators specific technical knowledge, it can be deployed by a single person in less than 5minutes.

Usability of the AirMast system is optimised around the user - the system is operated by custom software that can run on a tablet or laptop and has easy-to-use interface: buttons for taking off and landing, controlling the height of the drone and a few more to control the camera. T he simplicity and elegance of the interface gives more screen space to be used for monitoring the map, seeing which part of the map is seen by the camera as well as watching live video feed from the drone. Easy to deploy, operate and relocate in case of need.

EASY REPAIRABILITY

Air Mast is built on a popular drone platform that is widely available, flight-tested and reliable - the DJI S900 together with Elistair SAFE-T powering system. If something unexpected does happen, the parts most often damaged, such as landing gear, propellers or motors can easily be replaced. These parts are widely available from reputable drone retailers across the globe and can be sourced through Southern Cross Drones.

AIRMAST AND RAJANT KINETIC MESH NETWORK

As an option the AirMast Tether System can be paired with Rajant’s BreadCrumb module to give operators an easy way to establish a broadband network for their drones. With Rajant’s wireless nodes, you will have a secure system that can scale with various payloads, giving you true mobility. In kinetic mesh, everything is constantly moving, including the infrastructure, allowing an expansive network footprint.

As for an example situation, when there are obstacles preventing to establish reliable communication and drone and ground modules cannot talk to each other, using the AirMast tethered drone system with a radio repeater onboard can easily facilitate extension to your communications network.

MORE INFORMATION

Southern Cross Drones represents products and services of SPH Engineering in Australia, New Zealand and APAC region. For more information about all SPH Engineering products, please contact us by sending message to info@southerncrossdrones.com