RelmaTech has introduced its Direct Broadcast platform, which the company says meets any future regulatory requirements for UAS to broadcast their position and unique ID, without relying on a communications network to carry that data.

Using WiFi-based technology, the Direct Broadcast platform creates a unique beacon on the UAS. Described as light-weight and low cost, Direct Broadcast is based on “proven, stable and robust technology with high volume availability,” RelmaTech says.

RelmaTech also points out that a prototype version of the Direct Broadcast platform has been demonstrated to key individuals within the FAA UAS Integration Office and NASA UTM Research and Development Program.

“This is a broadcast mechanism, so no network attachment is required and latency, or broadcast delay, is near zero,” explains Philip Hall, RelmaTech’s co-founder and CEO.

“The small onboard device broadcasts a specific set of telemetry data at a high refresh rate. Broadcast signals may be detected by a simple Android/iOS smartphone app or by other compatible direct broadcast modules, making it an ideal solution for local identification and tracking of UAS, especially by law enforcement officers and first responders.”

RelmaTech notes that any required information, such as UAS location and ID, may be displayed on an augmented reality application, or on a moving map of the local area.

“What’s really exciting is that the solution also supports direct Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communications, enabling onboard situational awareness and Detect and Avoid applications,” Hall says.

“We are currently working with partners to demonstrate this. That’s not only exciting for us, but also for the UAS industry overall.”

RelmaTech says that the Direct Broadcast platform will be available soon as a standalone module (DBM). It will also be fully integrated into RelmaTech’s existing Secure Integrated Airspace Management (SIAM) system.

“With SIAM and the DBM, RelmaTech is now in a unique position to offer the global UAS industry practical, low cost and robust solutions to anticipated regulatory requirements for both network and broadcast UAS remote ID and tracking capabilities,” Hall says.