Bob Schena

Rajant announced advancements in its Kinetic Mesh Wireless Network technology that will power in-air mesh networks, enabling drone manufacturers to strengthen drone-to-drone and drone-to-ground communications. Kinetic Mesh delivers communication and video backhaul capabilities, supporting public safety, border security, search and rescue, and site survey applications, among others. Operating Multiple Aircrafts Concurrently One of the first to capitalize on these latest advances is xCraft, a mass-market developer of innovative drone technology and company that received investments from all five sharks on SharkTank. Coupling Rajant’s onboard intelligence with its new x2i Hybrid VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drone will allow users to fly in single, swarm, or tethered configurations, opening new doors of commercial opportunity. “Rajant’s network technology now makes it possible for one pilot to operate many x2i aircraft concurrently, with flight times of 45 minutes,” said Bob Schena, Rajant Chairman and CEO. “We’re pleased to partner with xCraft and bring more intelligence, mobility and autonomy to UAV communication infrastructures. Building upon our recent selection as the network infrastructure provider for the Sharp INTELLOS Automated Unmanned Ground Vehicle (A-UGV), x2i enables Rajant customers to cover greater aerial distances while supporting various drone payloads for video, LIDAR and chemical detection.” Rajant InstaMesh Routing Software A VTOL drone that combines the hovering ability of a multirotor with the attributes of a plane, x2i leverages Rajant’s InstaMesh routing software to deliver broadband over VTOL aircraft capable of transmitting applications up to 300 Mbps for such sectors as public safety, oil and gas, mining, forestry, agriculture, and homeland security. InstaMesh software also minimizes the amount of time necessary to configure the drone and the Rajant network for flight.“Unlike other drones, the x2i takes off and lands vertically, and transitions to forward flight using its high-efficiency wing,” said JD Claridge, CEO of xCraft. “Its capabilities, together with Rajant’s wireless network infrastructure, open the door to hundreds of commercial applications that can benefit from high-speed, long-range flight.” x2i Hybrid VTOL Drone The VTOL aircraft can fly farther and faster than any other multirotor in its class, with the ability to fly for 45 minutes at speeds up to 60 mph while carrying as much as 1.5 pounds of payload. No longer do organizations need to choose between the hovering precision of a multirotor and the speed and endurance of a fixed wing; the x2i meets both criteria. xCraft will show the x2i Hybrid VTOL drone from May 8 through May 11 in Rajant Booth No. 1908 and its own Booth No. 345 at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2017 in Dallas, a global community of leaders in drones, intelligent robotics, and unmanned systems shaping the future of industry.

Optimizing network infrastructures is a key requirement toward realizing business objectives Rajant and Mitsui USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, announced that they will jointly develop and market Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, and extensive information assurance and security expertise to solve the advanced communications challenges of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), drones, V2V (vehicle to vehicle), and other autonomous applications. InstaMesh Networking Software With its mission to help companies evolve and achieve their strategic goals, Mitsui USA plans to connect Rajant with companies desiring to streamline operations, increase revenue, and achieve real-time intelligence for better corporate decision-making. Optimizing network infrastructures is a key requirement toward realizing these objectives. “We’re looking forward to leveraging the IIoT expertise and deep experience in information assurance and security of Rajant to meet the needs of existing and new markets,” said Kiichiro Takanami, SVP, IT & Communication Business Division at Mitsui USA. “Rajant’s InstaMesh networking software and sophisticated military-grade security and cryptography will have a significantly favorable impact on organizations trying to capitalize on autonomous applications.” "Mitsui will help Rajant penetrate Mitsui’s global base as well as introduce us to new sectors" Kinetic Wireless Mesh Network Technology “Mitsui will help Rajant penetrate Mitsui’s global base as well as introduce us to new sectors that have yet to benefit from our advanced secure network capabilities,” said Bob Schena, Rajant Chairman and CEO. “As organizations look to capitalize on IIoT and autonomous applications and vehicles, they are demanding more bandwidth and applications on their networks – without sacrificing mobility, reliability and security.”The companies will target shared industry sectors, such as mining, oil & gas, as well as automotive and truck V2V, while Mitsui also will create new market exposure for Rajant in other verticals like transportation and agriculture. Rajant makes mobile, scalable, and highly reliable kinetic wireless mesh network technology, which, unlike traditional Wi-Fi technologies, does not do hand-off, providing an always connected communications network so critical applications can be accessed in real time.

The AirMast Drone System is being demonstrated in Booth 73A at the 3rd annual Commercial UAV Show, London As the demand for drone usage increases across industry sectors, Rajant’s kinetic mesh networks that are equipped to meet the aerial broadband connectivity drones require to maximize business advantage. Industries, such as oil & gas, mining, military, governments, and telecom companies to name a few, have been seeking a solution that will enable their drones to overcome weak or non-existent communication networks, bolster flight times, improve security, and scale their fleets. AirMast Tethered Drone System To address these issues, Rajant announced a partnership with UgCS to develop the AirMast Tethered Drone System, which includes UgCS’s ground-based command control software, Rajant’s latest innovation—the BreadCrumb drone module—and a tether system provided by Elistair. The AirMast Drone System is being demonstrated in Booth 73A at the 3rd annual Commercial UAV Show in London on 19th and 20th October. The Rajant drone module is a light, small-form-factor radio that can be integrated on a single drone or a cluster of drones for fleet management purposes. Capable of handling various payloads, including audio, camera, Lidar (for surveying), chemicals, etc., the light-weight BreadCrumb module integrated on the drone overcomes the obstacles of long distances, flight time, and limited functionality. "Rajant has married the latest innovations in flight with a communication network capable of taking drones greater distances, and for longer periods of time" “Rajant has married the latest innovations in flight with a communication network capable of taking drones greater distances, and for longer periods of time,” said Bob Schena, Chairman and CEO of Rajant. “Drone operators have been faced with weak radio systems and little payload versatility – until now. The AirMast Tether System with our BreadCrumb module gives companies and governments an easy way to establish a broadband network for their drones. With Rajant’s wireless nodes, they have a secure system that can scale with various payloads, giving them true mobility. In kinetic mesh, everything is constantly moving, including the infrastructure, allowing an expansive network footprint.” Application Areas Drones often are used for aerial surveillance, infrastructure monitoring, or photography, although industries such as agriculture also employ them for tasks such as fertilizing and planting. More than 20 major industries, including public safety and the military, currently use drones for a variety of jobs.   UgCS’s ground control software is capable of managing an entire fleet of drones simultaneously, allowing multiple drone operators in the field to connect to a single server. Furthermore, UgCS supports map customization by importing terrain elevation models or map overlays, and maintains simplicity and ease of use through its intuitive 3D interface. UgCS supports the most popular drones and even offers an SDK (software development kit) to create support for custom drone autopilots. "The AirMast uses an intelligent winch system and a cable that powers the drone from the ground, allowing it to stay in the air for extended periods of time with no reliance on batteries" “The AirMast uses an intelligent winch system and a cable that powers the drone from the ground, allowing it to stay in the air for extended periods of time with no reliance on batteries,” said Janis Kuze, Sales Director at UgCS. “Paired with a Rajant BreadCrumb drone module, it can quickly deploy a network ‘tower’ for as long as necessary, all the while being mobile, too. Together with UgCS, this setup allows for the deployment and management of a mesh network of drones. In addition, flight data as well as video streams from multiple drone operators in the field can be quickly sent to a UgCS ground station operator, allowing him or her to scan a large area in a short amount of time using drones, something that is very useful for search and rescue operations, photogrammetry and other fields.” Federal Aviation Administration Waiver In other news, Rajant announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued it a waiver, allowing the company to operate multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) concurrently. Under normal FAA regulations, no person may act as a remote pilot in command or visual observer for more than one unmanned aircraft operation at one time. The waiver is instrumental in Rajant’s ongoing initiative to advance its solutions to support drones as well as to solve the most complex broadband connectivity challenges involving aerial assets. For years, Rajant’s scalable and highly reliable kinetic wireless mesh network technology has been recognized as a leader in mission-critical communications. Several industries have relied on its always-on communication network to access their critical applications in real time.