Excelerate delivers Malta Mobile Command Centre and Lab to the University of Malta

Excelerate Technology has delivered a bespoke mobile command centre and laboratory to the University of Malta – the Malta Mobile Command Centre and Laboratory – working alongside the University of Malta, its in-country partner Alberta and Torton Bodies Limited.

Built within a 7.5-tonne vehicle, the platform gives the University a connected operational environment that can be deployed wherever it is needed. It houses mobile workstations, real-time data processing, live video streaming and drone deployment in a single vehicle.

Bethan Evans, Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate Technology, said, “The University needed connectivity and command tools that work where fixed networks do not reach. We have built that capability into one vehicle, so its teams can run research, communications and command activity wherever the work takes them.”

How combining satellite and cellular technologies ensures connectivity at all times

The vehicle combines satellite and cellular technologies to provide access to high-bandwidth connectivity beyond the reach of fixed infrastructure. A Starlink High-Performance system works alongside our Hybrid Edge, a dual-SIM multi-WAN bonding router, Excell antenna and 5G MIMO antenna to provide multiple available routes to the network, helping maintain connectivity in remote locations or where local networks are unavailable, congested or unreliable.

A portable 5G Linx Hub extends connectivity beyond the vehicle, supporting teams and connected equipment operating nearby.

Photo: Excelerate

Enhanced user PCs and individual operator display’s provide dedicated working positions for personnel inside the vehicle, while an internal display supports shared situational awareness so information and live feeds can be viewed collaboratively. Integrated 8×8 HDMI and USB switching lets operators route different sources between workstations and displays and the onboard network infrastructure includes a 24-port network switch and patch panel, with a VoIP desk phone supporting voice communications from the mobile workspace.

A roof-mounted pneumatic mast and Predator camera provide an elevated view of the surrounding area, with live footage brought into the vehicle and displayed alongside video from drones and other deployed sources. The integrated ExStream VSR manages, records and shares live video, giving teams a clearer view of conditions on the ground.

Excelerate’s Digital Dashboard Management Interface (DDMI) controls the vehicle’s integrated technology through a single interface. Operators can monitor and control key systems without managing each piece of equipment separately, reducing complexity and making the vehicle easier to operate during research activities, exercises or live deployments.

Independent operations supported by an uninterruptible onboard power system

A Fischer Panda 10000i PVMV-N generator provides stable power across the vehicle, supported by a 3kVA uninterruptible power supply and smart power distribution unit. These systems let the mobile laboratory and command centre operate independently for up to 10 hours under continuous electrical load.

It gives the University of Malta a flexible platform for taking research, communications and command capabilities into the field.

Bethan Evans said: “We are seeing more research and operational teams that need their capability to travel with them. This gives the University a base it can set up almost anywhere and still have the connectivity and command tools it relies on.”

The project combined the work of Excelerate Technology and its in-country partner Alberta (Malta), whilst Torton Bodies Limited delivered the specialist vehicle build. Excelerate designed and integrated the communications, connectivity, video, networking and command technology that lets the vehicle function as a complete mobile operational platform.