GS-200 (ARMADILLO)
Overview
The GS-200 (aka ARMADILLO) is an optical ground station (OGS) made by Mynaric for data communication in uplink and downlink. The station is designed to host a 10 Gbps link for any aircraft or stratospheric platform with low power consumption and high heat dissipation. ARMADILLO is optimized for the dynamic behavior of mobile transmitters and receivers and has an aperture of 200 mm. [1]
On September 11 2018, Mynaric announced that its terminals went into production and that the initial unit was tested and accepted by their customer. The GS-200 OGS was used by Facebook to test an optical link between an aircraft and the ground, reportedly achieving a 10 Gbps air-to-ground link with good connection. The production of multiple further units is expected in the first quarter of 2019. [2] In early November 2019, the GS-200 terminal was renamed ARMADILLO.
Related Links
Presentation: ARMADILLO Used as a Ground Station in ViaLight Test Flight