ECS’ first UAV and DO-160 certified RF data link to be unveiled at DSEI
Image courtesy ECS
Designed to take advantage of the growing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) market, Tove is the first of ECS’s family of low-profile lightweight form factor data downlinks certified to DO-160 (RTCA). It packs in comparable functionality to ECS’s popular Evenlode data link but delivered in a lightweight form factor with significantly reduced size, weight and power (SwaP), making it the ideal UAV payload.
When integrated into an unmanned system such as a drone, Tove can cost-effectively carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in air, sea or on land, in some cases, requiring extreme ranges of up to 100 kilometres. It benefits from Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology that ECS is renowned for. This enables the maintenance of a robust long-range connection with rapid re-gain of the link. It also allows for seamless integration with existing ECS ground receiver infrastructure.
The device can be provided with a proprietary encryption and encryption management system that provides a sovereign capability to a nation’s security forces, ensuring the complete protection of the data.
Jackson White, Business Development Director at ECS, commented: “Tove has been developed in response to the opportunities presented by the evolving UAV, UGV and USV markets. These platforms present significant cost, time and capability benefits compared to deploying high value fixed and rotary wing platforms to carry out the same task. ECS is bringing its breadth of RF data link expertise into this emerging sector. Tove is the first step in our strategic roadmap of RF data link capabilities for miniature environments.”
The onboard high definition, low latency video encoder provides superior compression, reduces channel bandwidth, increases spectral efficiency, and offers best in class range. GPS and telemetry data is also added to the Tove transport stream to provide positional information to the fixed or mobile receive stations. New and legacy third party sensors can be connected via its HD SDI, CVBS, USB and Ethernet inputs, extending the platform’s capabilities without hindering its task. Data collected by digital or analogue sensors – such as video, audio, radar, or platform management information – is securely transmitted to the ground control centre.
Tove is compatible with all ECS viewing terminals and ground receive infrastructure.
