pingRX Pro ADS-B traffic receiver

The pingRX Pro is a dual-band ADS-B receiver from uAvionix, an ADS-B In traffic receiver designed for unmanned aircraft systems that need to detect nearby crewed aircraft for detect-and-avoid and situational awareness.

The receiver listens on both ADS-B bands, 978 MHz UAT and 1090 MHz extended squitter, so it picks up the position reports broadcast by aircraft in the airspace around the drone. It is a receive-only device: it does not transmit and does not interrogate other aircraft, and it provides traffic data to the autopilot or ground station instead of making the unmanned aircraft visible to others. The maker bases it on receiver technology used in a large number of certified ADS-B installations, and states that the detection range is far greater than that of radar, camera or FMCW solutions. It tracks up to 100 aircraft simultaneously and covers 360° around the aircraft.

The physical figures are a mass of 8 g in an aluminium housing, which keeps the weight penalty low for small and medium aircraft. The antenna is detachable and remote-mounted, and the kit includes a 120° dipole pingAntenna with a 12-inch MMCX lead for 1090 MHz, an install kit and mounting tape. The maker describes the power consumption as minimal.

For integration, the pingRX Pro sends the traffic to the flight controller by MAVLink, and the maker states compatibility with ArduPilot, Pixhawk and Auterion Skynode platforms, as well as custom platforms using MAVLink or its UCP protocol. A MAVLink OEM protocol interface control document and a quick start guide are available. The base unit is fixed inside or outside the airframe with the supplied screws, and the antenna should be mounted vertically with a clear line of sight. A check of the wireless data link and ground-station range before each flight is recommended, and the detection list depends on a configured ADS-B list radius.

The maker states that ADS-B receivers such as this one support BVLOS approvals and follow FAA recommendations, although no certification of the unit itself is listed.

Typical applications are detect-and-avoid for commercial and public-safety drones, BVLOS operations in shared airspace, and traffic display in the ground station for operators of medium and heavy uncrewed aircraft.