UAV Satcom Validation Tools - Optimizing satcom link performance

Off-air testing of satcom connectivity for UAVs ensures safety and reliability

Modernization and digital transformation of Air traffic Management (ATM) together with aircraft avionics becoming more automated, complex and autonomous drives the need for secure, reliable, resilient satellite-enabled connectivity.

As Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) becomes less challenging and endurance range increases because drone terminals are being optimized, satellite connectivity is becoming a more realistic option for small and medium sized drones as well. This will enable them to fly BLOS and report their flight data to UTM in compliance with the new regulation and thereby expand their areas of operation greatly.

As our use of UAVs accelerates, so will the demand for validation and documentation of connectivity. Whether to comply with regulations or to show customers, that your products meet demands, there are huge advantages in verifying and validating (V&V) satellite connectivity before and after deployment. This can be done most efficiently and comprehensively with off-air test tools such as the ones Gatehouse Satcom provide. With our Digital Twin emulation solutions you can among other scenarios validate video compression and encryption algorithms for maneuvering under realistic, controllable, and repeatable conditions.

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Key benefits of our digital twin emulation solutions

Emulate all BGAN functionality in a controlled sandbox environment
Create, execute, reproduce and document performance under any scenario
Avoid exposure on the live network
Assure quality in any event (e.g. signal degradation, traffic shaping, queuing, QoS, congestion)

BGAN Application Tester Product Sheet

BGAN Network Emulator Product Sheet

Demonstration of key features

Emulating before deploying = Safety

There are huge advantages in verifying and validating (V&V) satellite connectivity before deployment. This can be done most efficiently and comprehensively with off-air test tools such as the ones we provide at Gatehouse Satcom. With our digital twin solutions you can test video compression and encryption algorithms for maneuvering under realistic, controllable, and repeatable conditions. Validating link performance under any conditions will protect your valuable assets from unwanted or unsafe responses.

Document results to
your customers

As a UAV manufacturer, OEM or application provider you will be met with a lot of questions when pitching the qualities of your UAV-system. Many of these questions will be about connectivity and durability under special conditions. Using our advanced test tools, you can emulate any scenario (signal degradation, traffic shaping, queuing, QoS and congestion) and will have fulfilling and comprehensive reports to share with your customers.

Emulated environment by using digital twin

The use of an off-air test tool efficiently provides a digital twin. The digital twin is a digital replica of the user environment and it can emulate the many physical conditions and limitation posed by a satellite connectivity link. In such an emulated environment you can verify and validate: The connectivity link to and from the satellite, impairments on the connectivity link, Beam and inter-satellite handover functions, the flight path of the UAV, the antenna performance influence on the connectivity link based on the flight attitude and much more.

Validation before deployment is crucial to ensure success

Growing dependency on digital solutions has demanded stronger and more effective satellite connectivity on unmanned vehicles for air and sea applications such as UAVs, UCAVs, RPAs, ASVs, and UUVs. It is crucial to validate all satellite enabled applications to guarantee the safety and performance of your systems.

Prepare for critical missions by taking satellite enabled application testing to new levels. With a BGAN Application Tester or BGAN Network Emulator, you can reproduce any scenario and test all satellite enabled applications before deploying.

With extensive test and documentation required for aero terminals, Honeywell used the Gatehouse Satcom BGAN Network Emulator (BNE) – an advanced network emulation tool – to configure test systems and simulate world-wide flight tracks.

A part of Velaris Partner Network

We are part of Inmarsat’s Velaris Partner Network as their preferred validation partner providing security and documentation to the UAV industry.
Watch this video with Joel Klooster from Inmarsat welcoming Gatehouse Satcom into the Velaris Partner Network.

Our Digital Twin Emulation Solutions

BGAN Application Tester

The BGAN Application Tester is an essential tool to ensure high-quality satellite applications connected via BGAN, FBB or SBB terminals with test and verification in an emulated and controlled Inmarsat BGAN environment.

BGAN Network Emulator

The BGAN Network Emulator is the most comprehensive test tool for both manual and automated terminal testing – no airtime or line-of-sight required. It is applicable to all segments: land, maritime, aviation and space.