June 23, 2021 – Bigfork, Montana – uAvionix Corporation today announced that, for the second time in as many quarters, it has certified a micro-transponder with the Department of Defense (DoD) Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System Identification Friend or Foe Program Office (AIMS PO). The RT-2087/ZPX-A, now certified in accordance with the AIMS 17-1000 performance specification, enables small DoD aircraft to cooperatively participate in National Airspaces worldwide with civil transponder Modes 3/A, C, S, and Extended Squitter (ES) ADS-B OUT. This holds true for many unmanned and manned aerial platforms, but especially small UAVs.
truFYX-EXT GPS
Weighing only 50 grams and with a complete footprint roughly 2/3rd the size of a business card, the ZPX-A delivers 200 watts of transmit power while only drawing an average of 1.5 watts from the aircraft’s power supply. The ZPX-A profile is small enough and light enough to be fitted into Group 1 or 2 UAV, making possible longer flight times and larger payloads with minimal energy consumption. When paired with truFYX, uAvionix’s SBAS GPS, ZPX-A is well-suited for operation in controlled airspace, delivering safe separation information to Air Traffic Control (ATC), Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS), and Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems.
ZPX-A takes advantage of its heritage from the recently FAA TSO-certified ping200X, which combines a Mode A, C, S Transponder, ADS-B OUT, and an altitude encoder into a single module certified to the following TSOs:
- TSO-C112e (Mode S Transponder)
- TSO-C166b (ADS-B OUT Extended Squitter)
- TSO-C88b (altitude encoder)
In March, uAvionix announced AIMS Mk XIIB certification of its first Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder, the RT-2087/ZPX-B. With this certification, ZPX-B became the world’s smallest, certified micro-IFF transponder, reducing Size, Weight, and Power Consumption (SWaP) of typical IFF transponders by more than 90%, and at less than half the size, one-third the weight, and one fourth the power consumption of other Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) IFF solutions. Incorporation of IFF technology into small, tactical, and attritable platforms allows them full participation into the cross-troop, cross-service, and cross-nation collaboration and situational awareness that prevents fratricide.
The ZPX-B was certified in partnership with R Cubed Engineering (R3E) under Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) sponsorship from the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy.
For more information on the uAvionix line of defense products, including IFF transponders, receivers, GPS, and crypto emulators, visit https://uavionix.com/defense/.
About uAvionix Corporation
uAvionix was founded with the mission of bringing safety solutions to the unmanned aviation industry to aid in the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into National Airspace Systems (NAS). uAvionix offers low-SWaP TSO-certified and uncertified avionics for General Aviation (GA), Airport Surface Vehicles, and the UAS markets. Its unparalleled engineering and management teams bring a unique combination of experience, drawing on avionics, airspace surveillance, airport services, UAS aircraft development, radio frequency (RF) engineering, and semiconductor industry best practices. uAvionix is backed by investors at Playground Global and Airbus Ventures.
To learn more about uAvionix manned and unmanned products, please visit: www.uavionix.com
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About R Cubed Engineering (R3E)
R Cubed Engineering LLC (R3E) is an SBA-certified, Woman-Owned Small Business that provides technical expertise and program guidance to initiatives that increase safety, promote accessibility, and boost science. Since 2004, R3E has been a leader in emerging sensor and avionics technologies needed to make these initiatives possible. Proven hardware, software, and firmware experts comprise a team that solves problems in trusted airspace integration and authenticated timing for industry and commercial entities in both civilian and military markets. R3E delivers cradle-to-grave support for customers, delivers functional prototypes, and identifies the logistics for manufacturing sustainment, all with a focus on minimum C-SWaP.
To learn more about R Cubed Engineering, please visit: www.rcubedengineering.com
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