FutureFlight
Inmarsat and Reliable Robotics Partner on Satellite Communications for Remotely Piloted Aircraft
Reliable Robotics and Inmarsat are partnering on the development of a communications system for remotely piloted UAS.
A Reliable Robotics Cessna Grand Caravan is pictured on a runway
Reliable Robotics has been flight testing its advanced navigation and autoflight system in the Cessna Grand Caravan for the past two years as part of plans to achieve autonomous commercial flight operations. (Photo: Reliable Robotics)

Autonomous flight technology developer Reliable Robotics has partnered with the satellite communications (satcom) provider Inmarsat to help integrate remotely piloted aircraft into the U.S. National Airspace System with a satcom solution specifically designed for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). 

Reliable Robotics, which is based in Mountain View, California, is developing an autonomous flight system to be installed on existing aircraft to make them capable of remotely piloted operations. The company aims to obtain its first supplemental type certificate, covering the conversion of Cessna Grand Caravan utility aircraft, in the second half of this year. It also holds a Part 135 commercial air carrier certificate and has been testing its autonomous flight technology on cargo flights with pilots on board.