SkyHopper Micro wireless data-link product

The SkyHopper PRO Micro is a bi-directional, cybersecure software defined radio (SDR) data link from Mobilicom for drones, robots and other autonomous platforms. It is the smallest member of the SkyHopper PRO family, built for commercial inspection and disaster relief work, and carries command, telemetry and video between an unmanned aircraft and its ground station or between networked nodes.

The link supports several network topologies: point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, mesh and relay (repeater), with unlimited viewers, and multiple synchronized point-to-point links. Transmission modes are broadcast, multicast and unicast, which suits full-HD video distribution to several receivers. A relay node extends line-of-sight range and covers dead spots in urban and industrial areas. The maker quotes up to 5 km of clear line-of-sight range and non-line-of-sight operation, and states that actual range varies with the configuration and the environment.

The radio figures describe the capacity and robustness of the link. Throughput is configurable from 0.95 to 6.4 Mbps, receiver sensitivity is up to -101 dBm, and the modulation is OFDM with time-division duplex. 2x2 MIMO with transmit and receive diversity helps in multipath conditions. The PRO Micro operates in the 2.3 to 2.7 GHz band, with output of 23 dBm (0.2 W) average per antenna and up to 1 W peak per antenna, and encryption is AES 128 as standard with AES 256 optional. The ICE cybersecurity suite adds interference avoidance, protection against jamming, and measures against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. A built-in spectrum analyzer is included.

The module measures 13.6 by 43 by 60 mm and weighs 62 g, and it is mounted directly on the host printed circuit board, which removes power and data cables and shortens assembly. It accepts 6 to 20 V DC and draws 12 W on average, up to 13 W peak at start. Interfaces are serial RS232 for telemetry and control, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet that carries IP, TCP, UDP, RTP, HTTP, VLAN and VPN traffic transparently, two MMCX antenna connectors, and optional RS485/422, 1pps and GPIO. The unit is configured through a web GUI or an API and works with a range of flight controllers, mission software and IP payloads without extra integration. Operating temperature is -20 to 45 degrees C.

The maker states compliance with the US NDAA and the Blue UAS cybersecurity requirement, and regional versions are available for FCC, CE and TELEC standards. Typical applications are small and medium unmanned aircraft fleets, infrastructure inspection, public safety and first-responder operations, security and surveillance, and mining and process industry robots.