TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it has delivered the world's first helicopter satellite communication system (HSA40) to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) through the Tokyo branch of the company's distributor, Seiryo Electric Company. The HSA40 system will begin operating in early April after airborne station is installed in helicopter of the Kyoto City Fire Department and base stations are installed in facilities both at the Kyoto City Fire Department in Kyoto and FDMA in Tokyo.
The system is expected to be used to gather information on disaster areas to support the rapid deployment of emergency-response measures. Currently, information is gathered with the so-called Heli-TV system, which transmits TV signals directly from a helicopter to a relay station on the ground. The conventional system can be prone to transmission disruptions due to mountains or buildings, and in many cases requires an operating relay station in the proximity of the disaster area.
Mitsubishi Electric's HSA40 helicopter satellite communication system transmits video and voice data from the helicopter to a satellite, enabling real-time information such as aerial video to be transmitted reliably to base stations from anywhere in Japan.
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Main features |
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1) Transmits aerial video of disaster areas to all parts of Japan |
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| - | Stable transmission of airborne video by intermittent transmission synchronized with blade rotation. | |
| - | No need for relay stations. Transmissions from helicopters to base stations can be sent from anywhere in Japan at the same time. | |
| - | Communication not affected by mountains or high buildings. | |
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2) Transmits high-quality video and enables bi-directional voice and data communication |
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| - | Uses the newest image compression technology, H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding, for real-time high-resolution images. | |
| - | Bi-directional voice and data communication between airborne and base stations. | |
| - | Retransmission of video and information via ground communication network or base stations. | |
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3) Lightweight, power saving airborne equipment |
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| - | In-cabin equipment of airborne station weighs about 20kg and external equipment about 35kg, excluding camera equipment. | |
| - | Airborne station achieves low-power consumption, enabling operation via standard power source on helicopters. | |
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Basic specifications |
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| Specifications | ||
| Frequency range |
Transmit: 14.0 to 14.4GHz
Receive: 12.25 to 12.75GHz |
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| Function | Transmission of video images, bi-directional voice and data communication | |
| Transceiving methods |
Downlink (base station to airborne station): time diversity method
Uplink (airborne station to base station): intermittent transmission synchronized with blade rotation |
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| Antenna | 0.4mφ parabola antenna, radome size 550φ × 600mm | |
| Satellite tracking method | Scanning method by received signal strength | |
| Transmission rates |
Downlink (base station to helicopter airborne station): 16kbps
Uplink (helicopter airborne station to base station): 384kbps to 10Mbps (maximum) |
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Helicopter operational
requirements (standard) |
Maximum flying speed: 160Kt, maximum altitude: 11,000ft
Bank angle: ±30 degrees, pitch angle: ±20 degrees |
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| Power requirements | DC28V (standard power source of helicopters) | |
| Operating temperature range |
External equipment: -25 to 50 degrees C,
Internal equipment: 0 to 40 degrees C |
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Power consumption of
airborne station |
900VA or lower (helicopter airborne station) | |
| Weight of airborne station |
External equipment: approx. 35kg
Internal equipment: approx. 20kg (helicopter airborne station) |
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About Mitsubishi Electric
With
over 90 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality
products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized
world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and
electronic equipment used in information processing and communications,
space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics,
industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment.
Embracing the spirit of its corporate statement, Changes for the Better,
and its environmental statement, Eco Changes, Mitsubishi Electric
endeavors to be a global, leading green company, enriching society with
technology. The company recorded consolidated group sales of 3,639.4
billion yen (US$ 44.4 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.
For more information visit http://www.MitsubishiElectric.com
*At
an exchange rate of 82 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo
Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2012