Introducing Gotonomi™: A New Generation of Small and Lightweight UAV Satellite Terminals

TTP and Viasat to herald launch of UAV safety platform at Commercial UAV Expo. Gotonomi inviting flight trial partners for compact UAV satellite terminals, enabling BVLOS operations for drone operators. 

Cambridge, UK, 23rd August, 2023: Today, technology developer TTP plc announce the launch of Gotonomi at the upcoming Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas. With the aim of seeding the market, Gotonomi will offer low size, weight and power satellite terminals for uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) as flight trial development kits to partners. The terminals will be compatible with Viasat’s Velaris™ global connectivity solution, and have been developed as part of the revolutionary Iris air traffic modernisation programme, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and powered by Viasat’s ELERA satellite network.  

Velaris provides secure communications for commercial UAVs to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and seamlessly integrate with aircraft in commercial airspace. It allows operators to send their UAVs on long-distance flights and access various applications, such as real-time monitoring, to ensure safe integration with air traffic.  

Once connected to the Velaris service, Gotonomi’s terminals will offer an always-available 200kbps secure datalink between vehicles, remote operators and UAV Traffic Management (UTM) systems. Users can choose between three initial variants: 

•        Velaris 200 – satcom only, fully integrated antenaa

•        Velaris Module – satcom only core module

•        Velaris Multi-link Module – satcom core module and LTE hybrid terminal with edge computer.

With hybrid connectivity, users have the benefit of low latency, high-speed 4G communications backed by a resilient satellite connection almost anywhere on the planet – providing seamless connectivity through the intelligent routing of data.  

Tristan Barkley, Head of Satellite and Space at TTP said “We want Gotonomi to play a lead role in growing the ecosystem of resilient universal communications for autonomous vehicle safety, offering cutting edge products made possible by TTP know-how.” 

Alongside satellite terminals, Gotonomi aims to play a key role in developing the market for safety products and services across a range of autonomous and remotely piloted vehicles on land, sea and air. For example, systems that will aid detect and avoid (DAA) – a key element for the safe operation of UAVs in commercial airspace. 

To find out how to become a flight trial partner and for more information go to www.gotonomi.com. We’ll be exhibiting on booth 717 at Commercial UAV Expo, September 5-7^th, 2023, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, USA. 

Gotonomi’s mission is to enable always on-connectivity for autonomous and remotely piloted vehicles, making safe and scalable beyond visual line of sight operations a reality. We have a vision to create a complete toolbox for safe autonomous operation on land sea and air. Our disruptive miniaturised communication system, designed by TTP, will bring satellite and cellular connectivity to smaller and lighter-weight UAVs. Our technology will enable command and control for BVLOS safety, telemetry, data services, voice and video streaming.

TTP is a technology and product development services company based in the Cambridge (UK) technology cluster. For 35 years the company was delivering science & technology driven innovation to clients in a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, where we are working with global leaders who benefit from TTP’s exposure to other industry sectors and technologies. TTP’s focus areas in the space sector include:

•          User terminals and antennas for satellite connectivity, including for UAVs

•          5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)

•          Intersatellite links

•          Space sustainability solutions.

TTP has extensive experience in the development of terrestrial and satellite communication solutions – from system level down to devices, from VHF to V-band, from land-based equipment to aeronautical and space-based platforms.

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.