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Or Yehuda, Israel — February 11, 2025 Elsight (ASX:ELS), the market leader in connectivity for unmanned and autonomous systems, announced its pivotal role in the Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU) mission completing a 320-mile aerial pipeline patrol in just 7.6 hours using a single Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for Shell Pipeline Company (SPLC).
This milestone achievement was made possible by Elsight’s Halo, a lightweight, highly reliable communications system for BVLOS (beyond visible line-of-sight) missions. Halo offers a secured connection to the C2 (command & control link), via interoperable aggregated multiple IP links. By integrating public and private cellular, satellite, and RF technologies, the Halo ensures uninterrupted UAV communications even in the most challenging environments. Whether in disaster response, surveillance, deliveries or lengthy remote inspections like the PAU gas line inspections, UAV flights empowered by the Elsight Halo complete the mission with continuous transmission of video, telemetry and data to the command-and-control center.
“We saw the difference in our results when using the Elsight Halo for continuous connectivity in the level of precise data we could collect, the distance flown, and in the value of remotely controlling the UAV from an offsite location,” said Will Wheeler, Director of Operations at Phoenix Air Unmanned. “When connectivity is that robust, it becomes a foundation enabling regulatory approvals and significantly scaling our operations.”
For this mission, PAU used the Event 38 E455 UAS, a fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing system, to complete 16 BVLOS flights. The UAS carried a high-resolution camera for live video feeds, logging 7.72 hours and 332.4 miles of flight. Real-time data was provided to SPLC inspectors and archived for future analysis.
“This achievement surpasses a project goal of proving that 300 linear miles of pipeline can be effectively patrolled by UAS in a single flight day,” added Wheeler.
“Elsight has developed extremely innovative wireless dispersion capabilities to prevent a single point of failure and ensuring mission continuity over difficult terrains and challenging circumstances,” said Yoav Amitai, CEO of Elsight. “We are very pleased to work with these leading UAV manufacturers and operators in the U.S. succeeding in applications that contribute both to society and to the advancement of the UAV industry.”
About Phoenix Air Unmanned
Founded in 2014 with a commitment to aviation and safety assurance, Phoenix Air Unmanned, LLC (PAU) is affiliated with the internationally recognized Part 135 air carrier, Phoenix Air Group, Inc. Specializing in utility inspection services, PAU has conducted over 17,500 miles of unmanned linear infrastructure inspections. With extensive BVLOS operational experience, FAA authorizations and waiver expertise, and robust safety management systems, PAU became the first registered operator of the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 1 for remotely piloted aircraft systems in 2021.
FAQs
1. What is the Elsight Halo, and how does it enable BVLOS (beyond visual line-of-sight) drone operations?
Halo is a resilient communications platform designed to support safe and reliable BVLOS operations. By combining multiple communication networks into a single resilient connection, and seamlessly switching among the best available communication links, Halo enables continuous command and control, real time video, and telemetry transmission over long distances. This multilink architecture allows operators to efficiently and safely inspect extensive pipeline networks.
2. Which communication links does Halo aggregate, and how does it prevent a single point of failure?
Halo simultaneously aggregates multiple communication technologies, including LTE, 5G, and satellite links. If one network degrades due to terrain, congestion, or coverage gaps, Halo seamlessly reroutes traffic through the remaining best available links. This multilink architecture eliminates dependence on any single connection and significantly improves mission reliability.
3. What range, flight duration, and data throughput can customers expect for missions like the 320-mile pipeline patrol?
Actual performance depends on the aircraft, payload, terrain, and available communications infrastructure. In the Shell Pipeline mission, Phoenix Air Unmanned completed a 320-mile BVLOS patrol using Halo-enabled connectivity. Halo supports the low latency and high bandwidth required for real time command and control, live video streaming, and sensor data transmission throughout extended inspection missions.
4. Which UAV platforms is Halo compatible with, and what does the integration involve?
Halo is designed as a compact low SWaP module for integration into a large variety of UAVs, UGVs, and autonomous robotic systems. The compact module weighs under 100 grams, measures 87 × 69 × 19 mm, and consumes roughly 6.5 watts of power, minimizing impact on payload capacity and flight endurance while enabling high-bandwidth BVLOS connectivity. Halo features standardized Ethernet, USB, and serial interfaces with native MAVLink protocol support for easy integration.
5. How does Elsight address data security, regulatory compliance, and support for obtaining BVLOS authorizations?
Halo incorporates multiple layers of security, including AES-256-CBC encryption, VPN tunneling, and multilink packet distribution to protect mission-critical communications. While operators remain responsible for obtaining regulatory approvals, Elsight HALO supports customers by providing connectivity performance data, operational expertise, and remote ID capability to help demonstrate the reliability of the communications architecture.
