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Flylogix and Cambridge Consultants, part of the Capgemini Group, today announce a collaboration that will exploit Iridium’s state-of-the-art satellite communications to safely control unmanned aerial vehicles from a central control hub. This will enable Flylogix to move from local drone piloting at the airfield to centrally controlled operations, massively increasing the resilience of their services to offshore installations. The Flylogix service reduces the cost, risk and environmental impact of gathering data from offshore exploration and production activities. Remote monitoring using satellite-controlled drones is a critical development for offshore operations, while applications that extend beyond line of sight are the next frontier in drone service development.
Conventional radio-based drone control systems cannot support central control. To date, satellite-based control systems have not been commercially viable in the private sector. Flylogix has already developed a novel dual satellite link that exploits the cost-effective Iridium® network using one of the smallest transceivers available, enabling safe, commercial operations that extend over the horizon. Cambridge Consultants will work with Flylogix to develop and enhance the performance of this system to enable resilient and reliable global operations, all controlled from Flylogix’s head office in the United Kingdom.
Cambridge Consultants has a long-term strategic relationship with Iridium Communications Inc., which operates the world’s only truly global satellite network. Cambridge Consultants helped to develop vital network components, including transceivers, gateway systems and service management platforms, alongside multiple generations of handsets that can access Iridium’s platform. As such, it was the natural choice to support Flylogix in developing its first of a kind service.
To support the development, Flylogix has established a relationship with a global leader in offshore drilling services for oil and gas wells. This company will provide an offshore platform for test operations as well as its unrivalled insights into offshore inspection and data gathering. The collaboration is also supported by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.
Charles Tavner, Executive Chairman at Flylogix, commented: “Flylogix is transforming the safety, cost and environmental impact of gathering data from offshore platforms, and only Iridium satellite communications can provide the robust, low-latency connectivity required for such testing applications. We’re delighted to be working with Cambridge Consultants, the acknowledged leader in satellite communications development, as we make the critical shift to centrally-controlled operations.”
Stewart Marsh, Associate Director at Cambridge Consultants, added: “This project harnesses our expertise in the aviation and energy sectors. In taking unmanned vehicles beyond line of sight we’re breaking new ground, building on our long track record in technically challenging and mission-critical system design.”
Notes to editors
About Flylogix
Flylogix is a team of innovative, practically minded engineers, scientists and operators who are transforming the business of remote operations using unmanned aviation systems for over-horizon operations in remote locations.
Flylogix is pioneering the integration of in-house developed software, artificial intelligence, satellite communications with small UAVs and deployable ground stations – so allowing them to operate in open, unsegregated airspace. This is a capability seldom found outside the military. Flylogix is Fareham based and operates a fleet of FX2 unmanned aircraft from locations across the UK, from major commercial airports to short, isolated airstrips.
Flylogix was recently (May 2020) selected to participate in the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) innovation sandbox. This offers innovative companies the chance to collaborate over emerging concepts, helping keep the UK aviation sector at the forefront of technology.
About Cambridge Consultants and Capgemini
About Cambridge Consultants
As the deep tech powerhouse of Capgemini, Cambridge Consultants (CC), is a global team of 800 bright, talented people. We are united by the ambition to turn brilliant ideas into technologies, products and services that have never been seen before. And which will transform business, society and the planet. Deep tech is a mindset; a bold strategy that harnesses radical science and engineering to achieve things no-one else can. It enables our clients to gain unassailable commercial advantage from defendable technology that they own. We are trusted by some of the world’s biggest brands and most ambitious start-ups to realise their critical technology-based aspirations – and we’ve been doing it for 60 years. Cambridge Consultants is part of Capgemini Invent.
About Capgemini
Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organisations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion
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