Halo BVLOS connectivity
Halo by Elsight redefines unmanned BVLOS connectivity
The Halo connectivity platform has reached significant milestones in 2020, an interview with Elsight’s new CEO, Yoav Amitai
Or Yehuda, Israel – Elsight has been gaining significant traction in 2020, despite the Covid-19 global crisis, and reached over 4,000 operating hours (3,000+ in the air,
1,000+ on the ground) with its signature Halo connectivity solution for unmanned
platforms, moreover, Elsight secured several certifications for Halo allowing it to go
commercial on a global scale. These milestones are a major move for Elsight on its mission to become the standard connectivity solution for all unmanned aerial platforms,
and specifically for those who look to operate BVLOS under regulation ongoing approval.
“Halo is used now, and we envision it being massively used in the future, for BVLOS
operations of UAVs. Either over populated areas, or less populated areas, Halo enables
operations in almost any terrain. We understand that the future of commercially
deploying UAVs, under an ongoing approval of the regulator, requires reliability that is
almost unbreakable, and that is what we are aiming for, assist manufacturers with
scaling their operations with regulatory approvals.” says Yoav Amitai, CEO at Elsight.
This news comes in the wake of many recent initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:
Running over 15 active POC’s with UAV/Drone companies around the world in over 50 different platforms. Halo is tested for its reliability and bandwidth capabilities for BVLOS flights in the most challenging terrains.
Halo reached an astounding +4,000 hours of operations (3,000+ with aerial unmanned platforms and 1,000+ with ground unmanned platforms)
Halo was certified this year with an FCC and CE certifications allowing it to scale
commercially in Europe and North America
Background on New Elsight CEO:
Yoav Amitai CEO
For the last three and a half years, Yoav served in several executive roles in Elsight.
Yoav took a major part in initiating and executing the company’s major strategic transition from project-based to product-oriented company, leveraging Elsight’s
advanced technology and shaping its technological and business vision. Before Elsight,
Yoav served as the GM of an engineering firm bringing extensive operations, technology, and engineering management experience.
A short intro into Elsight (Interview with Yoav Amitai, Elsight new CEO):
“Elsight was founded in 2009, focusing on the business of video and audio transmission
technologies. The company was mostly working with homeland security type organizations like the Israeli Police, military, fire department, prison authorities, special
units and more.
As our experience in this field grew we began realizing the potential of connectivity as a
whole and with a strong R&D team, led by Roee Kashi our CTO and co-founder, developed our signature bonding technology, which essentially utilizes any existing network infrastructure to enhance connectivity capabilities even in the most challenging environments.
We packed our unique bonding technology into our first in house product, the Multichannel device, which provided connectivity services, including video, audio and any kind of data transmission from the field to headquarters and vice versa.
Based on that technology we went public in 2017 (IPO @ ASX: ELS) and rapidly expanded our business. Moving or stationary, manned or unmanned, we provided connectivity wherever it was needed, mostly for homeland security use cases.
After much further insight and a deep dive into our technology core, we developed our
flagship product, the Halo connectivity platform. Halo is packed with our unique bonding
technology while featuring a small form factor, extremely low power consumption,
minimal weight and hybrid networking capabilities which make it an ideal connectivity
solution for unmanned platforms (UAV’s, UAS’s, drones, UGV’s robots etc.) Our mission
is to provide reliability to an always moving platform, and Halo is the key.
Halo is based on Elsight’s unique, connectivity technology that ensures near-real-time
high-bandwidth transmission from anywhere, to anywhere.
Taking advantage of multiple data links and existing network infrastructure, it maximizes
the efficiency of available resources, seamlessly adapting to your requirements and
providing low-latency transmission of any data.
Elsight’s powerful bi-directional algorithm splits any kind of data (video, audio, telemetry
and more) into encrypted packets, using secure VPN tunnelling to transmit via multiple
cellular and RF IP links, and decrypting and recombining at the destination. The algorithm automatically detects any failed channels, seamlessly switching to the most
suitable available transmission method.
See flow chart below:
People today are using either RF communication only or cellular communication only.
Some will be able to offer failover between them, or failover between a few cellular
providers. Elsight’s technology is utilizing all networks together at the same time which
provides a few unique features for the unmanned industry:
High bandwidth
Halo maximizes available bandwidth by multiplexing multiple communication links into one secure network tunnel, providing the ability to seamlessly transmit large quantities of video, audio, and data.
Low Latency
By utilizing all available cellular network infrastructure, latency is kept ultra-low, allowing near-real time data transmission for drones and robotics.
Cybersecure high-integrity data transmission
Malicious interception of data streams is a major threat to drones and robotic
systems that transmit critical data and intelligence over standard mobile technologies.
Halo keeps your communications safe and private at all times, securing transmissions
by splitting and encrypting data, and sending it via multiple cellular links simultaneously.
Built in authentication also enables you to know instantly who is using your platform.
Redundant capabilities for enhanced reliability
Many traditional UAV data links do not guarantee reliable and always-on
connectivity, making seamless control and data transmission impossible.
Multilayer hybrid connectivity
Halo safeguards against system failure by utilising multiple cellular pathways, with automatic detection of malfunctions and transmission to a different channel to ensure continuous uptime.
Multiple system configuration options
Halo’s flexible communications capabilities allow drones and robots to be connected via multiple options, with the ability to control multiple vehicles from one control centre.
Drones and autonomous vehicles equipped with Halo can send and receive data via
secure VPN tunelling to Elsight’s Cloud platform or an on-premise server, utilising
multiple cellular links to ensure the best possible transmission conditions.
Halo can also provide P2P connectivity that takes advantage of low-latency, low-cost
RF links when in proximity, and switches to cellular bonding to establish a BVLOS data
link.
Is the product stand-alone or is the idea that you build it into the software stack?
The idea is to integrate the OEM version of Halo into unmanned platforms. It becomes
an integral part of the unmanned platform. The platform manufacturer can use it as a
stand-alone plug-n-play device or, for deeper integrations, we equip our partners with
full API to make the perfect orchestration with the platform.
Who are you clients? The solutions provider or the software solutions provider?
Our clients are first and foremost those who are looking to operate BVLOS, usually the
manufacturers of the platforms themselves. They integrate Halo as an OEM connectivity
solution. Solution providers are a smaller market segment of ours. Between our
customer you will find: Airobotics, Copterpix Pro, Gadfin, IAI Elta (Robotics), and others.
Are you working with the FAA on this? What can you tell us about it?
Unfortunately, we can’t say much about our interaction with the FAA, however we can
say that we are deep in the regulation aspects and bring an essential part to approving
BVLOS operations
Given that much of the added value seems to be over populated areas: What type
of application do you envision Elsight being used for?
Halo is used now, and we envision it being massively used in the future, for BVLOS
operations of UAVs. Either over populated areas, or less populated areas, Halo enables
operations in almost any terrain. We understand that the future of commercially
deploying UAVs, under an ongoing approval of the regulator, requires reliability that is
almost unbreakable, and that is what we are aiming for, assist manufacturers with
scaling their operations with regulation approvals. That is an enabler for any unmanned
application.
I would be remiss if I did not ask, how is Covid affecting business?
This is a great question. Israel has been under heavy lockdown most of the time, so we
quickly adopted and sent our teams to work from home, which currently works great!
Covid has shone a light on the unmanned industry and created amazing opportunities
for Elsight with Halo. Even though countries closing borders, we were able to execute
major POC’s around the globe with good results, and we expect partnerships to expand
quickly in 2020 and into 2021.
What question did we not ask that you wish that we did?
How would a manufacturer that wants to benefit from your technology can get started?
Book a demo on our website: Elsight.com
What is the most interesting thing about Elsight that we would not find on your
website?
Every Elsight employee has a Halo device at home that is used whenever there are
broadband challenges. It really helped with our continued operations during Covid-19
while there were internet stability issues at our homes.
About Elsight: Elsight develops hybrid solutions that deliver extremely reliable, high
bandwidth, real-time connectivity even in the most challenging areas. Elsight’s products
incorporate software and hardware hybrid technologies, with its unique bonding connectivity solutions on-the-move or stationary. The last product offering, Halo, is a
connectivity solution for unmanned platforms and rural areas connectivity.
