Areas of application
Communication for unmanned systems in the air, on the ground and at sea that observe, move supplies and defend against drones, over long distances, under jamming and without satellites.
Reconnaissance and observation
Connect observation drones to a remote operator station on one network. Carry camera imagery and command data for terrain assessment and site awareness, with one drone relaying for another that observes beyond the ridge.
Long-range command and telemetry
Keep a long-range drone connected far from its operator. The link carries video over long distances, and a LoRa mode carries command and telemetry further still.
Unmanned logistics
Connect several ground robots carrying supplies between a staging area and a field location. Exchange commands and vehicle status with each robot as the convoy moves, with installation planned around its payload space and onboard power.
Air and ground on one network
Connect an observation drone and a ground robot with their operator station on one network. Share the drone’s view with the ground team and send commands to both platforms, with the ground robot relaying the link where terrain blocks a direct path.
Surface vessels and drones
Connect uncrewed surface vessels and a drone on one network. The drone extends the link between the vessels and back to the shore station, carrying video and control data across open water.
FPV drones on one mesh
Connect a group of FPV drones and their operator over one mesh network instead of one radio pair per drone. Drones pass video and control data along the mesh, and a relay platform carries the link beyond the operator’s line of sight.
Counter-UAV interceptors
Connect interceptor drones with the ground station protecting a site. Interceptors on standby and in flight share one mesh network, carrying video and control data between each interceptor and its operator.
Command links under jamming
Keep command and video flowing in contested spectrum. Two independent links, one in a low band and one in a high band, run at the same time with spread-spectrum and frequency-hopping waveforms, so jamming one band does not take the connection down.
GNSS-denied navigation with beacons
Place static nodes at known positions as radio beacons. Platforms measure their distance to each beacon over the link, which supports navigation when satellite positioning is jammed or unavailable.
These are illustrative, simplified concepts of operations. A real setup depends on your platforms, environment and mission.
The challenge
The platform moves. The need for a connection stays.
Defense systems operate in a contested radio environment. The link has to hold against jamming, and navigation has to hold when satellite signals are jammed or spoofed. Video and command-and-control data have to get through together, across terrain that blocks a direct path.
Missions now combine aerial, ground and maritime platforms, often from different vendors, and the number of platforms per mission keeps growing. A link built one radio pair at a time does not scale, in coverage or in cost.
The solution
Build communication into the platform itself.
Hive’s modules form a self-forming mesh: every platform relays for the others, and the network grows as platforms join. Video and command data travel over the same link. Spread-spectrum waveforms, frequency hopping, diversity across antennas and bands, and integrated spectrum scanning keep the link up under interference and jamming. Time-of-flight ranging over the link gives each platform a positioning input that does not depend on satellites.
Ethernet, Serial and USB interfaces and a documented configuration API connect the modules to existing command-and-control systems, whoever built the platform. Versions range from compact modules for small drones to 10 W and 20 W versions for ground vehicles, surface vessels and ground stations, in production quantities at short lead times.
Why Hive fits defense applications
Air and ground integration
Bring observation drones, logistics robots and operator stations into a common communication setup.
Mesh-capable communication
Connect multiple platforms in a mesh configuration around the application’s video and command-data needs.
Link information in the field
Inspect signal values, link status and spectrum activity to guide setup and troubleshooting in the field.
Integration around your platform
Address housing, antenna placement and power requirements alongside configuration through the browser or your own software.
Inquiries
Define the link for your platform
Share your platform types, operating environment and data requirements. We’ll discuss the module configuration, housing, antennas and power considerations for your integration.
- Email sales@hive-robotics.com