UAV - Unmanned Aircrafts

When operating an unmanned aircraft or drone, communication with Air Traffic Control and other aircraft is essential.

Remote Airband Radio Communication for Drones

SoftRadio enables you to position the airband radio near your flight location or even onboard the aircraft, while the pilot or radio operator can be situated remotely.

This flexibility ensures seamless communication without the need for the operator to be physically present at the aircraft.

Various Methods For Positioning The Radio

Radio In A High Position

Positioning the radio and antenna at a higher altitude significantly improves coverage.

This setup allows for remote control of the radio via an IP connection, which can be accessed through a landline internet connection or a 4G/5G modem.

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Radio Onboard The Drone

When the radio is onboard the UAV, it functions as though you are physically present and communicating with the "Tower."

Remote control of the onboard radio can be achieved through IP over 4G/5G when available or satellite when cellular connectivity is not accessible. This setup is similar to those used in unmanned vessels at sea.

To minimize weight, the recommended radio for onboard use is the Trig TY91 radio.

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Lightweight UAV Communication Solutions

We are receiving an increasing number of requests for lightweight solutions suitable for unmanned aircraft (drones). One such setup includes the Trig TY91 radio, alongside configurations using portable airband radios such as the Yaesu and Icom models. These systems provide flexible, efficient communication solutions tailored to the specific needs of unmanned aerial operations.

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Examples of using SoftRadio with UAV´s

Flying Between Hospitals In Cities

SoftRadio has participated in UAV trials in Belgium and Norway, supporting medical transport between hospitals. These drones deliver critical items such as test samples and blood far more efficiently than ground transport.

To ensure safe operations, drone pilots must communicate with nearby airport towers via radio, allowing all aircraft in the vicinity to receive the same information.

In the initial tests, the airband radio was placed on the ground and connected to the pilot via the Internet, allowing them to operate remotely from any location. In future implementations, the radio may be integrated onboard the drone, following the same approach used for unmanned maritime vessels.

The image on the right shows a drone from Senseloop in Oslo

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Drone Operations Between Mainland, Islands, and Offshore Rigs

For long-distance UAV flights, pilots typically need to communicate with air traffic control at both departure and arrival points. The most efficient way to achieve this is by installing an airband radio onboard the UAV and remotely controlling it from the pilot’s location. This setup ensures seamless communication, replicating the experience of being onboard the aircraft.

We have developed multiple solutions for this purpose and offer the compact Trig airband radio, which is lightweight and easily integrated into UAV systems.

The image on the left shows an airplane from Flylogix in the UK

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Drone Operations for Surveillance and Maintenance

For extended UAV operations, such as power line maintenance or surveillance in marine and military environments, onboard radio installation is essential. Long-duration flights increase the likelihood of encountering other aircraft, requiring quick identification via airband radio to ensure safe communication.

We have developed multiple solutions for this purpose and offer the compact Trig airband radio, which is lightweight and easily integrated into UAV systems for reliable, real-time communication.

The image on the right shows a generic UAV helicopter

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Customer case with the UK Armed Forces

The 47th Regiment Royal Artillery operates the Watchkeeper RPAS, delivering tactical ISTAR capabilities to the British Army. Equipped with EO/IR and radar payloads, it has a 14-hour flight endurance and is typically deployed from MOD Boscombe Down, which provides full ATC and airfield support.  

As part of a 90-day exercise, the regiment relocated to Keevil Airfield, a site without ATC or airfield infrastructure. Due to its lower elevation, direct communication with Boscombe Down ATC, 30 km away, is not possible. Despite this, the Watchkeeper RPAS conducts 6–8 hour sorties over Salisbury Plain Training Area while maintaining uninterrupted communication.

To enhance safety and maintain communication with Boscombe Down ATC, the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery implemented the Mimer SoftLine system from Brabourne. This RoIP repeater bridges the high ground between Keevil and Boscombe Down, enabling seamless radio communication.  

The system connects two ICOM IC-120E radios via SoftLine and the internet, allowing Watchkeeper pilots to use their internal radios despite the lack of direct line of sight. Its versatility ensures the regiment can deploy this technology in future remote operations to support troops worldwide.

Set Up In Cooperation With Brabourne Communications In The UK

 

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Helpful SoftRadio Options

  • Satellite mode
    There are special versions of our servers to handle the latency and jitter over a satellite link.
    Read more here.
  • Low Bandwidth
    We have an option to the Network Interface that reduces the bandwidth needed. Practical when every byte costs, for example over satellite.
    Read more here.

The image on the right shows a radio system onboard a UAV, remotely controlled via a satellite link.

 
Radio in UAV remote controlled over a satellite link