Intelsat, L-3 Subsidiaries Test Automatic Beam Switching Tech for Unmanned Aerial Systems

Subsidiaries of Intelsat and L-3 Communications have tested a new automatic beam switching technology designed to help unmanned aircraft systems with the latter company’s satellite communications packages run on the former’s Epic^ high-throughput satellite platform.

Intelsat General and L-3 CS-West aim to help UAS achieve throughput through Epic and subsequently validate the platform’s compatability with existing aircraft, Intelsat said Monday.

The companies carried out the test on Intelsat’s Horizons-1 satellite, where a navigator simulated UAS flights through three separate high-throughput spot beams on a single Epic class satellite.

Both companies also aim to help UAS switch between beams without user intervention, Intelsat said.

Intelsat General and L-3 CS-West plan to conduct more tests on platforms that utilize the Intelsat Epic IS-29 satellite.