Our patented, ultralight radar-based RF technology gives our customers’ UAVs autonomous landing and positional tethering. Designed and manufactured in the UK, our in-house engineering expertise ensures full control over quality, rapid innovation, and the ability to tailor solutions to meet mission-critical requirements.
A multiple radar-based RF system, skyAnchor™ consists of 1 Airside unit and 3 (or 1) Anchor units that are arranged in a triangular, Landing Pad constellation, typically 1m–2m (variable). This collaborative system provides Landing Pad ID and positional data (to the AutoPilot) in the form of 3D location (x,y,z) and orientation (pitch/roll/yaw).
skyAnchor™ self-synchronises to provide a dedicated bi-directional comms channel for a closed, end-to-end, fully authenticated solution. Information is passed via the MAVLink 2 protocol to compatible flight controllers, such as ArduPilot and PX4 as a precision landing/loiter target message.
skyAnchor™ supports both landing and positional tethering (or following) with static and moving platforms.
Key Features
- Small, lightweight, and low-powered with no moving parts.
- Highly effective in most weather conditions, with a strong ability to penetrate fog, smoke, and dust when compared with infrared, laser sensors, and cameras.
- Deliver reliable localisation in GNSS-denied environments, when satellite signals can be blocked, obstructed by buildings, or unavailable due to security threats.
- Highly resilient to malicious intrusion (spoofing) or jamming mechanisms
- Real-world operational resilience
Specifications
- Ranging distance 0 – 70m
- Airside Unit: 68mm x 55mm x 20mm PCB (30g)
- Anchor Units: 120mm x 120mm x 45mm (300g)
- Power Requirements (per Unit) 5W nominal [5-32V input]
- Communications (Serial UART / CAN)
- 60GHz operating frequency
skyAnchorTM is proven technology that has been integrated into partner UAVs, with numerous real-world deployments.
Precision Landing
A resilient landing solution for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is essential if they are to perform missions in adverse conditions, especially if satellite navigation systems are unavailable, obstructed, or jammed.
skyAnchor™ provides Landing Pad ID & positional data (to AutoPilot) to facilitate landing autonomy all the way to the Landing Pad.
skyAnchor™ also accounts for roll/pitch/yaw movements, typical of dynamic landing pads such as those found on a vessel.
skyAnchor™ takes advantage of radar’s ability to function over extended range, in adverse weather and light conditions, and in GNSS-denied environments, to provide additional performance and resilience over other landing systems. In addition radar can also be used for obstacle detection and avoidance, and skyAnchor™ is being developed to take advantage of this ability to support unplanned or ad-hoc landings.
Positional Tethering
“UAV loiter” is an operational mode where a UAV navigates to, and maintains, a fixed position and altitude above a designated target point. It is especially valuable for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, or seskyAnchorh and rescue operations where speed and precision are crucial.
skyAnchorTM is indispensable in these scenarios, as it enables radar-based RF tethering above both stationary and moving vehicle positions by using its precise 3D location to provide a precision loiter target position to the UAV flight controller via the MAVLink 2 protocol.
skyAnchorTM also makes sure that the UAV remains stationary even if the landing pad is lifted, demonstrating the system’s ability to effectively compensate for roll and pitch movements, as seen on moving or unstable platforms.