Sagetech Avionics has integrated its UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) transponders with leading open source autopilot software ArduPilot. The integration was developed in conjunction with Kraus Hamdani Aerospace and tested on their K1000 Ultra Long Endurance (K1000ULE) UAV, which is the world’s longest endurance, fully electric aircraft in its size and weight category.
Thanks to this collaboration with Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, Sagetech has added ArduPilot support to its extensive list of supported autopilots that natively integrate with its XP Series of UAV transponders. Instructions for integrating Sagetech transponders with ArduPilot-based UAVs can be found on the ArduPilot website.
Tom Furey, CEO of Sagetech Avionics, commented: “We’re thrilled to provide UAV innovators like Kraus Hamdani with reliable, integrated transponders for new platforms. The integration of time-proven systems like ArduPilot and Sagetech’s ADS-B transponders ensures the safe flight of unmanned aircraft in controlled airspace, over long ranges, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), and at night.”
Stefan Kraus, CTO and co-founder of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, said: “The use of transponders in compliance with aviation standards is a key step to advancing the UAV industry for safe integration into controlled airspace. Coupled with our contributions to the ArduPilot community for Sagetech’s low SWaP XP transponder, our fully autonomous K1000ULE platform can safely operate for extended periods in controlled airspace and at medium-to-high altitudes while carrying out complex missions.”
