According to a press release published by Enterprise Control Systems (ECS) on September 14, 2021, a British-based RF technology company part of SPX Corporation, announces the launch of Tove RF data link. Tove is a small, lightweight, low-power, high-performance RF data link and will be unveiled for the first time at DSEI, stand H2-956, between 14-17 September 2021, Excel London.

Tove RF data link (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Designed to take advantage of the growing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) market, Tove is the first of ECS’s family of lowprofile lightweight form factor data downlinks certified to DO-160 (RTCA). It packs in comparable functionality to ECS’s popular Evenlode data link but delivered in a lightweight form factor with significantly reduced size, weight and power (SwaP), making it the ideal UAV payload.

When integrated into an unmanned system such as a drone, Tove can cost-effectively carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in air, sea or on land, in some cases, requiring extreme ranges of up to 100 kilometres. It benefits from Software Defined Radio (SDR)
technology that ECS is renowned for. This enables the maintenance of a robust long-range connection with rapid re-gain of the link. It also allows for seamless integration with existing ECS ground receiver infrastructure.

The device can be provided with a proprietary encryption and encryption management system that provides a sovereign capability to a nation’s security forces, ensuring the complete protection of the data.

The onboard high definition, low latency video encoder provides superior compression, reduces channel bandwidth, increases spectral efficiency, and offers best in class range. GPS and telemetry data is also added to the Tove transport stream to provide positional information to the fixed or mobile receive stations. New and legacy third party sensors can be connected via its HD SDI, CVBS, USB and Ethernet inputs, extending the platform’s capabilities without hindering its task. Data collected by digital or analogue sensors – such as video, audio, radar, or platform management information – is securely transmitted to the ground control centre.

Tove is compatible with all ECS viewing terminals and ground receive infrastructure.

Tove is Enterprise Control Systems’ (ECS) new small form factor, low power, high performance RF Data link, certified to DO-160 standard (RTCA).

Tove can be integrated into an unmanned system such as a drone to cost-effectively carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in air, sea or land. It benefits from Software Defined Radio technology, allowing seamless integration with existing ECS ground receiver infrastructure whilst maintaining robust long-range connection with rapid link re-gain-delivered in a lightweight form factor with significantly reduced Size, Weight and Power. Tove can also be provided with proprietary encryption and encryption management systems.