Gotonomi, a leading provider of UAV satellite connectivity solutions, has announced the completion of further successful flight trials and the opening of orders for production units of all variants of its UAV satcom terminals at Commercial UAV Expo 2024 in Las Vegas. The launch marks a significant milestone, transitioning from pre-production flight development kits to type-approved, commercial terminals, enabling scalable beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS) for drone operators wishing to offer services such as inspection, surveillance and delivery.
Following extensive verification testing, including flight trials across the EU, US, Canada, Australia, U.K. and Brazil, deliveries of CE/FCC/RCC/ISED marked units will start from October 2024. All commercially available terminal variants will have achieved Viasat type approval making them the first UAV terminals to receive approval for Regional Class 4 operations. Flight development kits for R&D purposes are still available for delivery now.
Matthew Hill, general manager at Gotonomi, stated, “Following an extensive period of testing of our flight development kits, were thrilled to move into the production phase and preparing to ship commercial product. We see the Inspection and Surveillance market pushing forward the need for reliable BVLOS operations and we’re delighted to offer the Velaris Inspection Bundle, in collaboration with our partners Viasat and Videosoft Global, to meet the needs of those customers.”
The ‘inspection and surveillance’ product bundle, includes:
- Gotonomi Velaris Edge Module, with integrated SOM
- Gotonomi 200-A Omni Antenna
- Videosoft's ultra-low bandwidth video streaming software pre-loaded on the terminal
- Videosoft software license
- Viasat airtime.
The Inspection Bundle will be launched with introductory incentive pricing applied to a limited quantity. Expressions of interest will be taken at CUAV Expo.
Stewart McCone, CEO at Videosoft, commented, “This partnership represents a significant leap forward in UAV video capabilities. Videosoft Global’s software, combined with Gotonomi hardware, enables near real-time video streaming over satellite, opening new possibilities for operators who want to fly BVLOS and in remote areas not served by terrestrial networks.”
Developed in collaboration with TTP and Viasat, Gotonomi’s full product range of small form factor terminals are designed to meet the needs of businesses operating small and medium size airframes in applications that benefit strongly from remote operation. The terminals connect via Viasat’s Velaris network, a dedicated UAV connectivity service, and the flagship Velaris 200 provides a fully integrated satellite communication terminal and antenna. For greater flexibility, Gotonomi offers the Velaris Module (a satellite communication module) and the Velaris Multi-link Module (a hybrid terminal combining satellite and LTE connectivity with edge computing capabilities). The Gotonomi 200-A Omni Antenna complements these offerings as a lightweight standalone antenna.
Gotonomi addresses the critical challenge of ensuring continuous connectivity for UAVs, but also offers key differentiators from other terminal providers:
- Lighter weight, smaller size and lower cost than competitors
- Comprehensive assistance with integration, helping operators take flight
- Competitive airtime fee structure with always-on connectivity and no charges for maintaining an active satellite connection
- Up to 200 kbps data rates with excellent global availability through Viasat's Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN).
The launch of production units comes at a crucial time for the UAV industry. As the sector expands into new applications such as cargo, passenger transit, crop spraying, site inspection and search and rescue, the need for reliable, always-on communication links has become paramount.
Anthony Spouncer, senior director of advanced air mobility (AAM) at Viasat, commented, “The commercial availability of Gotonomi's production units represents a critical moment in the UAV industry. By combining Gotonomi's innovative hardware with Viasat's Velaris service, we're providing operators with unparalleled connectivity and reliability. This launch will accelerate the adoption of BVLOS operations in various sectors, from remote inspections to emergency response.”
Gotonomi's partner TTP is also working on detect and avoid technology, further enhancing the safety capabilities of UAV operations.