Ukrainian Ground Drones Gain Jamming-Resistant Fiber-Optic Control
17 December, 2024 A ground drone with an integrated fiber optic coil. Source: DRONARIUM. Ukraine has demonstrated the integration of a fiber-optic communication system into a ground-based unmanned platform.
This was reported by Militarnyi journalists who attended the Demo Day of the DRONARIUM team. During the event, maneuvering over rough terrain was demonstrated, including reversing. The main advantage of fiber-optic systems is the stable transmission of telemetry, control and video data with minimal delay.
A ground drone with an integrated fiber optic coil.
Source: DRONARIUM.
As a result, the crew can effectively conduct targeted fire on moving enemy targets and confidently control the combat vehicle. An important advantage is the resistance of such systems to enemy electronic countermeasures. They are ten times cheaper than secure radio communication systems, while their technical characteristics are significantly superior to similar solutions.
The main disadvantage is the possibility of fiber-optic breakage. However, for ground-based platforms for which the weight of the control system is not critical, this problem is solved by using reliable materials and protective covers. In addition, the use of a fiber-optic communication system will help in controlling the drone in dense urban or wooded areas where surrounding objects interfere with radio signal transmission.
Demo Day by the DRONARIUM team
In addition to ground drones, the team also demonstrated aerial drones, including aggressive maneuvering of an FPV drone with fiber-optic control and a payload.
The team also demonstrated bomber drones that performed bombing missions over forests. The team also showed FPV drones that dropped munitions and then performed combat missions.
The introduction of fiber-optic systems in unmanned aerial vehicles takes the fight against electronic warfare to a new level.
Drones become invulnerable to interference, and the quality of communication remains stable under any conditions.