GMS Demos Unmanned Aerial HD Capture

Global Microwave Systems (GMS), a subsidiary of The Allied Defense Group Inc., has successfully completed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight demonstration of a HD video wireless link. The company said it is the first known successful flight demonstration of a HD link on a UAV platform, which paves the way for real-time HD long-range aerial filming for the film and broadcast industries.

GMS partnered with Flying-Cam of Belgium to complete the demonstration held on April 10 at GMS's facilities in Carlsbad, Calif. The demo included the use of a GMS "High-Definition Messenger Link" (HDML) mounted on a Flying-Cam UAV platform. GMS' HDML includes the High-Definition Messenger Transmitter (HDMT), the 6-antenna diversity Messenger Smart Receiver (MSR), the optional Messenger Antennas Array (MAA) for long distance coverage and an HD MPEG-2 Decoder.

The success of this flight also opens up the capability for operational deployment of HD UAV platforms in critical surveillance and covert applications that require high-resolution images, according to the company.

"This is a significant achievement at a point where the whole world of video is in transition from 'Standard Definition' to 'High Definition,'" said Sam Nasiri, president of GMS. "Now we cannot only read a license plate on a car traveling at 65 mph, we can see it from 2,000 feet in the air with greater brightness, clarity and color definition--all unmanned."

The recorded video stream was steadfast during the entire flight and can be viewed online.