Mesh Rider Radio wireless data-link product

The Doodle Labs Mesh Rider Radio is a family of mesh radio data links (MANET radios) for unmanned aircraft, ground vehicles, surface vessels and dismounted operators. It is sold by Doodle Labs in four form factors: Nano², Mini, OEM and Wearable. Each one is a wireless data link and mesh networking radio that carries video, telemetry and command and control traffic on a single IP network between airborne, ground and maritime nodes.

The radios form a self-forming, self-healing, peer-to-peer mesh without fixed infrastructure. When a vehicle moves, drops out of range or rejoins, the network finds a new path and redirects traffic. The waveform builds on 802.11, COFDM and IP networking, adapted for mobile networks with narrower channel options and a low-latency path reserved for command and control. Dual-radio operation with failover between links, multi-node relay and MIMO are part of the architecture, and the Sense EW option adds wideband frequency hopping for contested spectrum.

Figures an integrator will compare are stated per family. Maximum throughput is 80 Mbps. Typical range for HD video streaming is stated as 50+ km on the product pages, and the downloadable specification sheets give 80+ km. Maximum transmit power is 1.6 W (32 dBm) across the four form factors. Frequency coverage depends on the model: multiband versions combine 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz, the M1-M6 hex band, L and S band, or a quad band of 255/455, 2245, 2350 and 2450 MHz, while single-band versions cover 2.4 GHz and a 5650-5755 MHz Japan robotics band. The OEM and Wearable versions add NATO-C, licensed plus ISM bands and 5.8 GHz.

Mechanical and electrical data differ by form factor. Mini measures 46 x 51 x 6.5 mm and weighs 34 g, Nano² measures 46.9 x 35 x 20.7 mm, OEM measures 57 x 86 x 13 mm and weighs 102 g, and Wearable measures 134.3 x 63 x 17 mm and weighs 311 g. Mini and Nano² draw 5 W on average and 8 W at peak. OEM draws 5 W when receiving, 14 W at peak and 2 W in standby. Host interfaces are 100 Base-T Ethernet, USB device and host, and UART, with GPIO on Mini and Nano² and Wi-Fi on OEM and Wearable. Antenna connectors are MMCX on the embedded boards and TNC with an SMA GPS port on Wearable.

For security, the family offers AES-128 and AES-256 encryption, with FIPS 140-3 listed. Doodle Labs states that the portfolio is NDAA Section 889 compliant and Blue UAS Framework approved, and that the design is intended to remain non-ITAR. Documented software interfaces allow link status and configuration to be read by the host platform software, and a throughput estimation tool helps size a link.

Typical applications are small and medium unmanned aircraft, unmanned ground vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, relay nodes and operator-worn terminals for defence, public-safety and commercial users. Embedded Mini and Nano² boards suit airframes where mass and volume are limited, OEM suits larger vehicles that need more interfaces, and Wearable connects phones and tablets to the same mesh. The model, band plan and antenna set must be selected per platform, and the integrator remains responsible for spectrum licensing and approval of the finished system.