ADS-B For Small Drones?

Putting ADS-B aboard small drones is not only possible, its already out there in limited volume. Sagetech Corp., which makes the Clarity and Clarity SV ADS-B portable receivers, has a line of micro transponders and ADS-B equipment. And we do mean micro. These devices are the size of a business card and about 0.7-inch thick. They weigh 100 grams, less antenna. Thats about the weight of a GoPro camera.

Editorial Staff

Friday, March 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Sagetech Corp. manufactures micro ADS-B transponders (XPS-TR) for small drones, which are business card-sized, weigh 100 grams, and deliver full 250-watt output.
While feasible for larger drones, the transponder's power consumption (up to 11 watts) can significantly reduce the endurance of smaller drones weighing five pounds or less.
Further miniaturization faces challenges related to heat rejection due to the 250-watt output and the high economic cost of producing such specialized, low-volume devices.

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Putting ADS-B aboard small drones is not only possible, it’s already out there in limited volume. Sagetech Corp., which makes the Clarity and Clarity SV ADS-B portable receivers, has a line of micro transponders and ADS-B equipment. And we do mean micro. These devices are the size of a business card and about 0.7-inch thick. They weigh 100 grams, less antenna. That’s about the weight of a GoPro camera.