Data link uses a radio-frequency (RF) transmission to transmit and receive information to and from the UAV. These transmissions can include location, remaining flight time, distance and location to target, distance to the pilot, location of the pilot, payload information, airspeed, altitude, and many other parameters. This data link can also transmit live video from the UAV back to the GCS so the pilot and ground crew can observe what the UAV camera is seeing. There are various frequencies used in the data link system. The frequencies that are used are based on UAV brand as well as functionality of the UAV. For example, the DJI systems use 2.4Ghz for UAV control and 5Ghz for video transmission. This setup will give the user approximately 4 miles of range. However, if using 900Mhz for UAV control and 1.3Ghz for video, a distance of 20+ miles can be achieved. The Data Link portion of the UAS platform also happens to be the most vulnerable in detection and countermeasures. All data link systems in a UAS must comply with FCC Part 15 and Part 97. When discussing range limitations of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) the weak “link” in the system is the data link system. Many times, the aircraft can “outfly” the data link system but the range is restricted by the data link system. There are various combinations of data link systems available to the consumer that can be used for UAV operation. The three main components data links are used in the operation of the UAV are: A few things to be mentioned regarding specific radio frequencies commonly used in a data link system. The most popular of these frequencies being: These radio bands each have their common uses based on what they are capable of regarding range and penetration. The lower the frequency band the greater penetration into obstacles between the operator and the UAV. This is due to the wavelength of each of the bands. The longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency, and the longer the range. The figure below illustrates the wavelength of each of the four frequencies stated above. UAV Control The most popular data links used in a UAS are 2.4Ghz and 900Mhz. The most popular data links used in a UAS are 1.3Ghz, 2.4Ghz, and 5.8Ghz The most popular data link frequencies used in a UAS for telemetry are 400Mhz and 900Mhz. These frequencies have a benefit of long range without any data loss. However, due to the longer wavelengths these systems are unable to transfer large data rates.How do drones communicate with their operator?
What are the range limitations for a drone?
Advanced data link system
Video Transmission
Telemetry
See Also
Drone-based weather monitoringSee Also
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