Range and signal transmission are core issues in the drone sector. Instrumental to them is a coordinated antenna set-up. Here extremely lightweight and high-performance blade antennas are currently in demand as they also increase safety in air space.
The current trend on the market: drones are to fly as far as possible and be able to transmit high-resolution images or videos. To live up to this demand a stable and safe connection between the drone and ground station is needed. “This is still receiving too little attention,” found Manuel Marbach and adds “many manufacturers invest time and money in an appealing, aerodynamic drone design but only attach little attention to an antenna set-up that is optimally geared to their application. Those wanting to stand out from their competitors and survive on the market long term will necessarily need an antenna set-up that is optimally adapted to environmental parameters for the respective applications,” says the engineer and sales manager of PIDSO from Vienna, a one-stop solutions provider of high-end antennas, antenna systems and radar technologies.
Blade antennas score points with their aerodynamics and reduced weight. This is why they are not only attractive for drones but also used in race cars, airplanes or helicopters. Depending on whether they are used for civilian or military purposes the demands made on frequency bands and durability vary. “Ideally, a blade antenna covers a wide spectrum of frequencies,” explains Marbach.
Integration of air control systems
At present there is a demand for blade antennas that are both aerodynamic and lightweight and easy to install on the surface of aircraft or to incorporate into their structure. Also gaining in importance is the integration of various radio services in one single antenna housing. These include ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast), for example, to display aircraft movements in air space. In the USA this standard is already mandatory for all airspace participants whereas in Europe ADS-B implementation is only mandatory for large aircraft exceeding 5.7 tons of departure weight or a cruising speed of over 250 KTAS.
Another up-and-coming feature in drone technology is the collision warning system FLARM. It is already considered a standard for gliders and a rising number of motor gliders, powered aeroplanes, helicopters and microlight aircraft are also equipped with this technology. Drones fitted with FLARM can be detected well by other air space users on a variety of displays.
Made in Europe
Many blade antennas are currently manufactured outside of Europe. In Marbach’s experience, however, European companies are also seeking European suppliers. Being an Austrian company that has developed and produced its products in house for 15 years and is certified according to EN9100, PIDSO can fulfil this customers’ wish. “We accompany our customers from the initial idea to a product ready for series production,” explains Marbach and goes on to say: “Since we constantly verify interim development steps in house and also work with prototypes that are improved iteratively, we can massively cut development cycles. Here we also depend on customers’ regular feedback, which is actively incorporated into our development process. Our customers greatly appreciate this form of cooperation.”
Best example of the rapid market maturity of a product is the development of a blade antenna for an Airbus helicopter. It was ready for deployment in as little as six months – including product certification according to DO-160G.
At XPONENTIAL Europe, the trade show for uncrewed systems and robotics held from 18 - 20 February 2025 in Düsseldorf, the PIDSO company will present amongst others several of its blade antennas. These will also include three new versions currently still under development and slotted for release in the second half of 2024.
Author: Sonja Buske
