Hispasat and Inaer Demonstrate Drone Satellite Connectivity in Spain

[Via Satellite 05-16-2016] Hispasat, together with Spanish aerospace company Inaer, have performed a demonstration of their new connectivity solution for emergency and security services with unmanned aircraft or drones. The demonstration took place on May 13 at the Rozas airfield in Lugo, Spain, showing real-time video streamed from a drone flying over Catoira beach in Pontevedra up to the Rozas airfield.

The drone transmitted video images via Wi-Fi to a forward command post located on the beach itself, which in turn were sent to the airfield via a satellite link. To achieve this, the forward command post relied on a quick-deploy satellite terminal to transmit the images to the satellite, which then forwarded them to the receiving point anywhere in its scope of coverage. In this case, the airfield received the signal via a receiving antenna.

Hispasat has been working in recent years on advancing these kinds of solutions with drones together with other companies like Inaer and Indra. The solution demonstrated is part of the Hispasat OnTime range of products, which enable satellite communications services to be deployed in emergency scenarios such as fire fighting, coastal surveillance, restoration of communications in catastrophes, as well as civil security and emergency health services.