Embedded Module wireless data-link product

The Embedded Module from Persistent Systems is a Wave Relay MANET radio module for integration into unmanned air and ground vehicles, robots and other host platforms. It is a LOS (line-of-sight) wireless data-link for building self-forming, self-healing mesh networks that carry IP data, video, audio and control between mobile nodes, and it is offered in the maker's range of manned and unmanned products.

The module is a complete radio and computer on a board, weighing 90.7 g (3.2 oz) and measuring 5.08 x 8.35 x 1.49 cm (2.00 x 3.29 x 0.59 in). It is rated for an operating temperature of -40°C to +85°C and lists compliance with RE102 and MIL-STD-810G tests for vibration, high temperature and high altitude in operation. The compact size and the stated mass make it suited to small and medium unmanned aircraft where every gram of payload counts.

Networking is built on Wave Relay: a peer-to-peer mesh without a master node, with a node entry time under 1 second, no limit on hops or nodes, and a maximum distance between nodes of 130 mi. The module offers an integrated serial-to-Ethernet function, a layer 2 network, IPv4 and IPv6, multicast algorithms, a DHCP server and compatibility with Cloud Relay. For an integrator this means that aircraft can relay for each other and that ground and air nodes form one IP network without manual routing.

Security uses CTR-AES-256 encryption with SHA-256 HMAC, hardware cryptographic acceleration and Suite-B algorithms, with local or over-the-air rekey and key zeroize. Management is by a web browser interface, with network firmware upgrade and a developer API for customization. An onboard 1 GHz quad core ARM processor with 2 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash storage runs Wave Relay OS.

Interfaces are Ethernet at 10/100 Mbps through a JST connector, one RS-232 serial port, USB OTG, a GPS connector, GPIO with sleep, zeroize and 1PPS signals, and audio in and out. Video input is available through micro HDMI and an MMCX connector for 3G-SDI or composite sources, with H.264 encoding and decoding at 500 Kbps to 20 Mbps and resolutions up to 1080p. Power input is 8-28 VDC through a 6-pin Molex connector, with a draw of 0.3 A at 12 V.

Typical applications are video and telemetry links for unmanned aircraft and ground vehicles, relay networks for teams of vehicles, and mesh connectivity for robotic and sensor systems.