Super-Beacon-Outdoor

Order the Super-Beacon-Outdoor - a reliable return point for your drone!

Super-Beacon-Outdoor is a professional radio beacon for precise positioning. It creates a stable reference point for quadcopters to navigate the terrain. This device is critical for autonomous flights without GPS. You will be able to fly in difficult conditions, for example, in forests or gorges. Your drone will always know its exact position relative to the beacon.

This beacon operates as a ground station with known coordinates. It emits a radio signal, which is received by a special receiver on board the drone. Based on the strength and other parameters of the signal, the system calculates the position. This allows the drone to fly along a given route with high precision. You get reliable navigation where satellite systems fail.

• Stable outdoor operation in any weather conditions.

• Long range to cover a large working area.

• High positioning accuracy drone relative to the beacon point.

• Protected and durable housing from moisture, dust and mechanical influences.

• Self-powered from built-in or external batteries.

How does this local positioning system work?

The beacon constantly emits a radio signal at a certain frequency. The receiver on the drone receives this signal and analyzes it. Using triangulation or signal strength measurement (RSSI), the system determines the distance to the beacon and the angle. Several beacons can create a complete local positioning network. The drone calculates its coordinates in this network with centimeter accuracy.

This technology is independent of satellites and external infrastructure. She works under the forest canopy, indoors, and in canyons. The signal is resistant to most atmospheric and industrial interference. This is an ideal solution for precision work in limited areas. You can deploy your own navigation system in a few minutes.

The technical characteristics of the beacon ensure its reliability. The operating frequency is usually in the range of 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz. The range can reach several hundred meters or more. The positioning accuracy in the coverage area is tens of centimeters. Transmitter power is adjusted to optimize coverage. Power is provided by powerful batteries for many hours of operation.

The functionality includes continuous emission and packet transmission modes. The beacon can transmit not only a signal, but also its coordinates. Some models support time synchronization for multiple beacons. This is necessary for accurate measurements of the signal arrival time difference. The device has light and sound indication of the operating status.

Device and features

The design is designed for tough outdoor conditions. The housing is rated IP65 or higher against rain and dust. The materials are resistant to ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes. The antenna can be built-in or external for better coverage. The lighthouse is equipped with a mount for a tripod or installation on the ground. It can be easily transported and quickly deployed to a new location.

The system is compatible with popular standalone platforms. It can work with Pixhawk and Cube flight controllers through special modules. Data from the receiver is integrated into the autopilot's navigation filter. This allows the drone to fly precise routes and complete missions. You can set a pattern flight around the lighthouse or to land at it.

The lighthouse is indispensable for a number of commercial and research tasks. It is used for precise mapping and aerial photography of areas. Farmland monitoring requires repeatable, precise routes. Inspection of construction sites and infrastructure facilities. Any work where accuracy and repeatability of flights are important.

To set up the system, it is important to place the beacon correctly. It should be installed in a location with good visibility and no obstruction. The coordinates of the lighthouse must be accurately measured using GPS or geodesy. Multiple beacons are placed to create a network with overlapping zones. System calibration ensures that the stated positioning accuracy is achieved.

Distance between beacons

• Reaches up to 50 meters in laboratory conditions
• Recommended distance up to 30 meters (RX4 to RX4)
• Stable tracking range of Super-Beacon-Outdoor beacon + Super-Beacon-Outdoor beacon by 20-50%
• greater than the range of HW v4.9 beacon + HW v4.9 beacon in the same conditions
• Coverage area

Specifications 

• With Starter Kit configurations reaches up to 1000 m2
• Coverage of large areas is similar to cellular networks
• Location accuracy
• 1–3% distance to beacons
• Differential accuracy: ±2cm
• Differential accuracy is on par with or better than the HW v4.9 beacon, in part because the sensor
• is point and not wide sensors HW v4.9; and, in part, due to higher computational
• power and more advanced algorithms of the Super-Beacon-Outdoor beacon
• Location update speed

Non-inverse architecture:

• 0.05–25 Hz
• Can be installed manually or automatically
• Depends on the distance between the mobile and stationary beacons (shorter distance - higher frequency
• updates)
• Depends on the number of mobile beacons: for example, update rate 25 Hz for 1 mobile beacon
• will result in a refresh rate of 25 Hz/2 for 2 mobile beacons, and 25 Hz/3 for 3 mobile beacons, etc.
• d. – TDMA approach
• Depends on the radio interface profile (500 kbit/s versus 38 kbit/s)

Inverse architecture:

• 0.05–25 Hz. It is planned that future software releases will support IMU merging, which will provide
• refresh rate up to 100 Hz
• Can be installed manually or automatically
• Depends on the distance between the mobile and stationary beacons (shorter distance - higher frequency
• updates)
• Does not directly depend on the number of mobile beacons - they all receive
• Depends on air interface profile (500 kbit/s vs. 38 kbit/s)
• Power supply and battery life

Internal:

• Lithium polymer battery 1000 mAh
• Battery life depends entirely on usage
• Beacon receiving mode with 8Hz update rate and 10m submaps => up to 30 hours
• Transmitting beacon with update rate 1/10 Hz => several months
• Future power saving features could extend battery life to 1 year or more (very
• low update rate or location update on demand)
• External:
• MicroUSB – recommended for permanent use
• Weight: 75 grams (including 1000 mAh battery, case and 50mm antenna)
• Size: 55x55x33mm (with 50mm antenna: 55x55x65mm).