1. Abstract / Summary
UMAG Solutions integrated Doodle Labs Mini mesh radios into its F1Mag magnetic sensor payload to enable secure, long-range wireless data transmission for drone-based magnetic sensing missions. The solution delivers reliable, real-time communications for advanced applications including Mine Detection, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and subsurface magnetic anomaly detection.
2. Background
F1Mag is a high-sensitivity magnetic sensor payload developed by UMAG Solutions for integration with aerial drone platforms. The system supports missions including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Counter Measures (MCM), geo-exploration, and other applications that rely on detecting magnetic anomalies beneath the surface.
3. The Program or Mission Need
UMAG Solutions required a robust, encrypted wireless communications link capable of reliably transmitting high-rate sensor data from aerial drone platforms operating in challenging RF environments. The system needed to support operational ranges between 2 km and 15 km while communication nodes operated at very low altitudes, typically 2 to 10 meters above the surface.
4. The Evaluation Landscape
Prior to selecting Doodle Labs, UMAG Solutions evaluated traditional point-to-point radios as well as competing mesh networking solutions. The evaluation focused on throughput, latency, and overall field robustness under operational conditions.
5. Selection Criteria
The communications system needed to support secure AES encryption, mesh networking for multi-node deployments, and low-latency data transmission to enable near-real-time visualization of sensor outputs. Predictable performance under operational loads was also required. In addition, the team evaluated candidate platforms using SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) criteria.
6. Why the UMAG Chose Doodle Labs
Doodle Labs was selected due to its RF resilience and straightforward integration with the F1Mag sensor platform. During operational testing, the system demonstrated strong performance across realistic mission scenarios.
7. Solution Overview
UMAG Solutions integrated the Doodle Labs Mini radio directly into the F1Mag payload. The system was configured for both secure point-to-point and mesh networking architectures, operating in the license-free 2.4 GHz ISM band. This configuration enabled flexible deployment across multiple operational scenarios.
8. Program or Mission Win
The integration of Doodle Labs radios with the F1Mag sensor enabled long-range, high-rate sensor data streaming during operational sorties. The system delivered near-real-time detection of mines and submarines, supporting mission-critical sensing applications.
9. Platform or System Highlights
The integrated solution provides stable high-bandwidth telemetry capable of supporting high-quality magnetic anomaly detection. The system has been demonstrated across both operational deployments and demonstration scenarios, confirming its suitability for real-world missions.
10. Performance Validation
The integration strengthened the F1Mag platform’s market position by enhancing its operational capability and delivering a more complete turnkey sensing and communications solution. The use of Doodle Labs also reduced adoption barriers. The long-range communications performance enabled real-time demonstrations of submarine detection capabilities, highlighting the system’s operational value.
11. Strategic Impact
UMAG Solutions plans to explore expanded mesh networking topologies, deeper software integration, and optimized radio configurations for future sensor platforms.
