Skysense Says Light is Beautiful With BCON 1
Photo: Robb Cohen Photography & Video
Skysense, a Swedish startup, is showing its debut product, a prototype lightweight ADS-B out device aimed at unmanned aircraft (Booth #1802).
The Stockholm-based company has developed BCON 1, a class B ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) out transmitter that is about the size of a package of cigarettes, 85 by 45 millimeters. More importantly, it weighs only 12 grams, or less than half an ounce.
“Weight is more important. If it weighs too much, it will drain batteries a bit more,” says Skysense’s Robby de Candido, who says he believes BCON 1 is the lightest ADS-B out transmitter, or will be when it starts shipping in July.
BCON 1 is aimed at commercial drones, the kind that can carry heavier payloads and fly beyond line of sight of the operator. De Candido says it’s the first step in an eventual electronic sense-and-avoid system that will grow to include Wi-Fi, LTE and other communications technologies.
“We see this platform as the first step. Now ADS-B, then Wi-Fi and LTE as well. That’s basically the roadmap,” he says.
The nascent company, which started working on the concept less than a year ago, is made up of veterans of Ericksonn, Nokia and Saab Avionics, all of whom are working with Skysense part time.
