The availability of connectivity is often a constraint on autonomous systems. Source: Ground Control
Autonomous systems are increasingly being deployed beyond visual line of sight, where they can deliver the most operational value. Drones are now used to inspect offshore wind farms, monitor pipelines, survey remote infrastructure, and support maritime operations. Flight control platforms such as ArduPilot have matured considerably and now underpin a wide range of commercial and industrial systems.
Yet a persistent constraint remains. In many real deployments, the limiting factor is no longer the aircraft or the autonomy software, but the availability of reliable connectivity, particularly in isolated regions.
Reliable communications are fundamental to the safe operation of unmanned systems, particularly for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) missions. Operators require consistent command and control links alongside telemetry that provides visibility of aircraft health, position, and mission status. Without that foundation, even technically capable platforms cannot be deployed with confidence.
The limits of terrestrial networks
Most uncrewed systems today depend heavily on terrestrial networks for command, control, and telemetry. Cellular connectivity has made it far easier to deploy and manage drones in urban and suburban environments, but its coverage is inherently uneven.
Many of the sectors that stand to benefit most from BVLOS operations operate far beyond reliable cellular coverage. Offshore wind farms can sit tens of kilometers from shore. Long-distance pipelines and transmission networks often cross sparsely populated regions. Maritime and coastal inspection operations regularly take place in areas where terrestrial connectivity does not exist.
This creates a practical ceiling for many drone deployments. If the communications link cannot be guaranteed, operators must either restrict BVLOS operations or invest in complex local infrastructure.
Satellite connectivity is an alternative
Satellite communications are increasingly being explored as a practical way to address this gap. Historically, satellite links were associated with large platforms and specialized applications, but advances in modem technology and network services are changing that picture.
Modern satellite services can provide IP connectivity for command, telemetry, and data transport in locations where terrestrial networks are unavailable. For BVLOS operations in remote or disconnected environments, this provides a way to maintain reliable communications without relying on local network infrastructure.
The concept is straightforward in principle, but practical questions remain around latency, bandwidth, and system configuration.
Learning from practical testing
Recent work within the ArduPilot community offers useful insight into how satellite connectivity performs in practice. Testing carried out by ArduPilot developer Stephen Dade examined the behavior of MAVLink telemetry operating over the Iridium Certus satellite service.
The aim was not simply to establish a connection but also to understand whether satellite communications could support the operational requirements of an uncrewed platform using a widely adopted open flight control system.
The findings suggested that, with appropriate configuration, satellite links can support the core telemetry and command requirements of such systems. Round-trip latency in the testing was typically measured between several hundred milliseconds and just over a second. While this is higher than a typical cellular connection, it remains within the range required for command and control, health monitoring, and situational awareness.
More importantly, the testing also highlighted several practical considerations for system designers and integrators.
Designing for satellite environments
Satellite links behave very differently from terrestrial networks, and successful integration depends on recognizing those differences.
Bandwidth management is particularly important. Telemetry streams must be configured with a clear understanding of the available throughput. Adjusting message rates helps ensure that essential telemetry remains available without overwhelming the link.
Network architecture also plays a role. Satellite connections typically involve higher latency and different traffic characteristics, which means networking and security approaches need to reflect those conditions. Careful design of VPN and gateway arrangements can significantly improve reliability and overall performance.
Physical installation can also influence link quality. Antenna placement and local obstructions such as buildings, terrain, or vegetation can affect signal performance, reinforcing the importance of installation practices suited to satellite communications rather than terrestrial networking.
Taken together, these factors show that satellite connectivity is not simply a drop-in replacement for cellular networking. It requires thoughtful integration into the broader communications architecture of the system.
Expanding the BVLOS operational envelope
For industries that depend on remote infrastructure, the implications are significant. Energy companies monitoring offshore installations, operators inspecting pipelines, and organizations working in maritime environments all face similar connectivity challenges.
Satellite-enabled telemetry offers a way to extend BVLOS operations into areas where terrestrial networks do not reach. Rather than limiting deployments to the footprint of cellular coverage, system designers can begin to consider communications architectures that combine multiple connectivity options.
Where cellular coverage exists, terrestrial networks will continue to provide the most efficient connectivity. However, satellite links offer an additional layer of resilience and reach when operations move beyond that footprint.
Connectivity is a critical enabler
As autonomous systems continue to mature, attention naturally focuses on aircraft capability, sensors, and autonomy software. These elements remain important, but for BVLOS operations, communications infrastructure is increasingly becoming the factor that determines where systems can operate and how effectively they can scale.
The growth of satellite connectivity for unmanned platforms suggests that this constraint may gradually ease. By extending command, control, and telemetry beyond the boundaries of terrestrial networks, satellite links enable operations in some of the environments where autonomous systems deliver the greatest operational value.
Aircraft capability will continue to advance, but the reliability of the communications link ultimately defines the practical operational envelope. As autonomous systems move further into industrial and remote environments, connectivity will become one of the most important pieces of infrastructure supporting their deployment.
Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control.
About the author
Alastair MacLeod is CEO of Ground Control, a U.K. and U.S.-based technology company specialising in satellite and hybrid IoT communications for remote and mission-critical operations.
With more than 25 years of experience in global connectivity and M2M solutions, he has led multiple innovations in low-power asset tracking and data efficiency across logistics, utilities, and environmental monitoring sectors.
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