Drone Transponders Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022

Published: Jun, 2016 | Pages: 268 | Publisher: WinterGreen Research
Industry: Automotive | Report Format: Electronic (PDF)

The simplest way to protect against mid-air collisions is to require the use of ADS-B transponders on all aircraft.  Transponders can turn an uncooperative environment into a cooperative environment.

Transponders provide location and positioning information about smart commercial drones.  These drones have a computer inside, they are easy to fly, remotely maneuverable, have a camera, and contain sensor logic.  Smart drones are evolving computer driven collision avoidance technology making the flying more reliable.  

Remote operation occurs in the context of a workflow and sensors.  Cameras are improving dramatically to permit management of video and picture taking that is realistic and detailed.  Drone actuators, drone transponders, are needed to support drone package delivery.  This is a huge new market that speeds economic development, makes it easier for the middle class to both work, and purchase lifestyle items and food efficiently.

Drones based on aerial robotic platform technology can be used to make deliveries to each person’s home, landing on the back doorstep, leaving packages in a locked box.  The drone package delivery technology has reached a level of maturity that bodes well for market development.  Drone systems are mature enough to be at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing.

Dronecode is an independently funded software project that harnesses the power of collaborative development.  The aim is to fuel innovation across drone industries and ecosystems.  Dronecode Foundation is a nonprofit organization working on a common, shared open source platform for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).  Dronecode brings together existing and future open source UAV software projects.

APM UAV software platform was developed by 3DRobotics.  1,200 developers are working on Dronecode’s six projects focused on maximizing adoption of the project’s cost-effective, reliable and technologically advanced UAV software.  

Micro-Avionix has an ultra-lightweight low cost ADS-B transponder for UAS.  Micro-Avionix has developed an ADS-B suitable for UAVs of all sizes to improve flying safety for all.  The ping is a family of ultralight weight, low cost, ADS-B transponders.

Weights range from 1.5 to 30 grams, delivering a variety of types of performance.  The ping 2020, for instance, is capable of IN on both 1090ES and 978UAT, and OUT on 978UAT.  The products are fully compliant with the minimum performance standards of DO-282B Class A1S.  Micro-Avionix has developed an ADS-B suitable for UAVs of all sizes to The ping is among the world’s first families of ultralight weight, low cost, ADS-B transponders.

Transponder and sense and avoid technology sponsorship by Sagetech, L-3 Aviation Products, FreeFlight, Micro-Avionix, Google, Trig, DJI, and Intel has been effective.  Development by  Dronecode application ecosystem provides huge advances in drone real-time sense and avoid behavior.  An open source collaboration is expected to accelerate deployable solutions for agile and reliable operation in the national airspace.  The open source platform has been adopted by many organizations on the forefront of drone technology:  3DRobotics, Parrot, Qualcomm, Intel, DroneDeploy, Yuneec, Airphrame, and others.  

With 750,000 users and 500 active developers the open source code initiative represents a compelling community of professionals and enthusiasts is able to support active improvements in control of airspace and improvement in flying safety for all.  The alliance has worked on development standardization and software module interoperability. 

According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, “Use of drone transponders represents a key milestone in provision of value to the airborne package delivery industry.  Customized cameras are used to supplement GPS navigation, acting as eyes of the drone, permitting package delivery everywhere.  Digital controls will further automate flying, making ease of use and flight stability a reality. 

New materials and new designs are bringing that transformation forward.  By furthering transponder innovation, continued growth is assured.”  

The worldwide market for drone transponders is anticipated to start from nothing and reach $2.5 billion worldwide by 2022 growing in response to the need to prevent drone collisions, keep the highways in the sky safe, and manage routing of commercial drones.  Multiple applications drive market growth, most of all package delivery occurs out of line of sight.  Other applications for drone transponders are in consumer photography, lightweight commercial drones for real estate, the military, law enforcement, border control, homeland security, utility infrastructure surveillance, agriculture, aerial mapping, and package delivery.  

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WinterGreen Research supports various market segment programs; provides trusted technical services to the marketing departments.  It carries out accurate market share and forecast analysis services for a range of commercial and government customers globally.  These are all vital market research support solutions requiring trust and integrity.

Companies Profiled

Market Leaders

•	Sagetech
•	L-3 Aviation Products
•	FreeFlight 
•	Micro-Avionix
•	Google
•	Trig Avionics 
•	DJI
•	Intel

Market Participants

•	Airogistic
•	Amazon
•	Denel Dynamics
•	Dronecode
•	Fortem 
•	Garmin
•	IMSAR LLC
•	I-Lap Timing Systems
•	Knorr-Bremse Group / Bendix
•	MarcusUAV 
•	MMist
•	Northrop Grumman

      Key Topics

•	ADS-B Transponders
•	Drones
•	Military Drones
•	Commercial Drones
•	Drone Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
•	Drone 3D Mapping
•	Drone Commercial Pipeline Observation
•	Drone Border Patrol
•	Drone Package Delivery
•	Drone Photography
•	Drone Agriculture
•	Aerial Refueling
•	Law Enforcement Drones
•	Video from the Air
•	Delivery by Air
•	Photography from the Air
•	Military Mission Support
•	Cameras On Stable Flying Platforms
•	Package Delivery Systems
•	3D Mapping
•	UAV

 Table of Contents

Drone Transponder Highways in the Sky Executive Summary	25
Drone Transponder Market Driving Forces	25
Self-Regulation of Drones Using Transponders	29
Remote-Controlled Aircraft	32
Drone Transponder Market Driving Forces	32
Drone Transponder Market Shares	34
Drone Transponder Market Forecasts	35

1. Drone Highways in the Sky: Market Description and Market Dynamics	37
1.1  UAS Regulatory Frameworks	37
1.1.1  ADS-B for Small Drones	38
1.2  Need for Drone Controlled Airspace	39
1.2.1  Transponder Control by Privately Owned Agency	40
1.2.2  Self-Regulation of Drones Using Transponders	42
1.2.3  Project Wing from Google Wants A Transponder Mandatory For All Aircraft	44
1.3	Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast ADS-B Transponder	47
1.3.1	QUICK LINKS	50
1.3.2	PRODUCTS	50
1.4	Google wants transponder in uncontrolled airspace	51
1.4.1	US FAA Commercial Drone Permits	55
1.5	Smart Commercial Drones	57
1.5.1	Smart Drones: Commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)	 Description	58	
1.6	Drone Enhanced Capability and Payloads	59
1.6.1	Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Enhanced Resilience	62
1.6.2	Small and Micro-UAS Drones	62

2. Drone Highways in the Sky Market Shares and Forecasts 63
2.1  Drone Transponder Market Driving Forces	63
2.1.1  Self-Regulation of Drones Using Transponders	67
2.1.2	Dronecode Platform	69
2.1.3	Remote-Controlled Aircraft	69
2.1.4  Drone Transponder Market Driving Forces	70
2.2  Drone Transponder Leading Market Participants	71
2.2.1	Sagetech	72
2.2.2	L-3 Aviation Products	73
2.2.3	FreeFlight	74
2.2.4	Micro-Avionix	74
2.2.5  Google Low-Cost ADSB Transponders	74
2.2.6  Trig Design And Engineering	75
2.2.7  Intel Ascending Technologies’ Asctec Trinity	75
2.2.8	Dedrone	76
2.2.9	ISMAR / Fortem	77
2.2.10	DJI	77
2.2.11 microadsb.com	78
2.3  Drone Transponder Market Forecasts	78
2.3.1  Drone Aerial Systems Market Forecasts	81
2.3.2  Drone Market Segment Applications	83
2.3.3  Drone Aerial Systems by Sector, Military, Agriculture, Oil and Gas,	
Border Patrol, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Disaster Response, Package	
Delivery, Photography, Videography, Dollars	84
2.4  Commercial Drone Transponder Prices and Drone Issues	87
2.4.1	RELATED PRODUCTS	90
2.5  ADS-B In Receivers	91
2.5.1  $300 Transponder Units For CAA UK Approval	92
2.5.2  Drone Issues Beyond Line Of Sight	93
2.6  Drone Transponder Regional Market Segment Analysis	95

3. Drone Transponder Highways in the Sky Product Description		96
3.1  Google Low-Cost ADSB Transponders	96
3.1.1	Google’s Vision	97
3.1.2	Autonomous Drones Airspace: Private Agency Control	98
3.1.3  Google Has Started Development of A Transponder	98
3.1.4	Google Mesh Networks	99
3.2	Sagetech	100
3.2.1  Sagetech ADS-B for Small Drones	105
3.2.2  Sagetech Transponders Shrinking To Meet FAA Drone Demands	107
3.3	Microadsb.com	108
3.3.1  UgCS Compatible with ADS-B Receivers	110
3.4	L-3 Aviation Products	110
3.4.1   L-3 NXT-600 / NXT-800	111
3.4.2  L-3 Upgrade to ADS-B Out	112
3.4.3	L-3 SafeRoute®	112
3.5	FreeFlight	113
3.5.1  FreeFlight Systems and CMD Flight Solutions	113
3.5.2	CMD Flight Solutions	114
3.6	Airogisitic	114
3.7	General Atomics Drone Friend or Foe Identification (IFF) Transponders	115
3.8	Trig		116
3.8.1  Trig TT31 Mode S ADS-B Capable Transponder	116
3.9	Lynx		120
3.9.1	Pilot Nightmare: Entering a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) Airspace 122 
3.10 Stratus	123
3.10.1 Stratus Esg Transponder	124
3.11 Rockwell Collins	125
3.12 Bendix	130
3.13 Garmin	133
3.14 MarcusUAV Medium Range 2.4Ghz Tracking Antenna	134
3.14.1 Marcus UAV	135
3.15	I-Laps Transponder for FPV Multi-rotors	136
3.16	Intel	137
3.16.1	Intel Realsense Cameras And Ascending Technologies’ Asctec Trinity 137 
3.16.2	Ascending Technologies AscTec Firefly	139
3.16.3	Drone: Asctec Firefly with Intel Realsense	139
3.16.4	Ascending Technologies and Intel Collaboration to Develop Drone	
Collision Avoidance Technology	140
3.16.5	Ascending Technologies Asctec Firefly / Intel RealSense Camera	141
3.16.6	Intel Realsense Cameras and Ascending Technologies’ Asctec Trinity 142 
3.16.7	AscTec Falcon 8	143
3.17	Micro-Avionix	143
3.18 Follow Me Drones	144
3.19 Textron Systems Homeland Security	146
3.19.1	Nano Air Vehicle	149
3.20 Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 UAS	150
3.20.1	Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 Multi-mission, Multi-role ISR System	151
3.20.2	Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 System	152
3.20.3	Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 Multi-mission, Multi-role ISR System Features 153	
3.20.4	Denel Dynamics Hungwe UAS	156
3.21	IMSAR LLC Collision-Avoidance Radar Systems	157
3.22	Civilian  UAV’s - Rover Systems	157
3.23	CPI-406 Deployable Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)	158
3.23.1	Deployable Flight Incident Recorder Set (DFIRS)	159
3.23.2 Airborne Separation Video System (ASVS)	159
3.23.3 Airborne Separation Video System – Remote Sensor (ASVS – RS)	159
3.24 DJI		160
3.24.1 DJI Guidance Approach	161
3.25 Dedrone	161

4. Drone Highways in the Sky Transponder Research and Technology		163
4.1  Lloyd’s Register Chief Technology Officer Guidance Notes	163
4.1.1	Lloyd’s Register Foundation Unlocking Further Potential	166
4.1.2	Lloyd’s Register First Phase Of Its Guidance Notes For Drones	167
4.2  Drone Software Technology / UgCS	168
4.2.1	DJI	171
4.2.2	3DRobotics	172
4.2.3	Lockheed Martin	173
4.2.4	Mikrokopter	174
4.2.5	Micropilot	175
4.2.6	Microdrones	176
4.2.7	Parrot	177
4.3	Transponder Technology	177
4.4	Drone Regulation	178
4.4.1	Separating The Hobbyist Industry From The Commercial Drone industry A Challenge	181	
4.4.2	Drone Test Sites Selected by the FAA	183
4.4.3	Drone Exemptions	185
4.4.4	FAA Plans Final Regulation on Commercial Drone Use by Mid-2016 186
4.4.5	US FAA Commercial Drone Permits	187
4.5	Unmanned Aerial Systems Payloads		188
4.5.1  Composites Key to Utility		189
4.5.2	Military Drone Technology		189
4.5.3	Military Systems Interoperability	193
4.5.4  Drone Operational Benefits of Autonomy	194
4.5.5  Drone Operational Benefits of Autonomy	196

5. Drone Highways in the Sky Company Profiles	197
5.1	Airogistic		197
5.2	Amazon		198
5.3	Denel Dynamics		200
5.4	DJI			201
5.4.1  DJI Revenue Demonstrates Leadership Position	203
5.5	Dronecode		206
5.6	FreeFlight		206
5.6.1  FreeFlight Systems and CMD Flight Solutions Complete ADS-B Out AML
STC for Part 25		207
5.7	Fortem		209
5.8	Garmin		212
5.8.1  Garmin Global Positioning System	214
5.8.2	Garmin Aviation		215
5.8.3	Garmin Transponder Solutions		215
5.8.4  Garmin UAT-Based ADS-B Solutions –	216
5.9	Google		216
5.9.1	Google Robotic Division		220
5.9.2	Google Self-Driving Car		220
5.9.3  Google Cars Address Vast Majority Of Vehicle Accidents Due To Human Error		222			
5.9.4	Google Business	223
5.9.5	Google Corporate Highlights	224
5.9.6	Google Search	225
5.10 IMSAR LLC	226
5.10.1 IMSAR Announces Sale of Detect and Avoid Radar Technology to Fortem Technologies - Product Available from Fortem in July 2016	228
5.11 Intel		229
5.11.1 Intel Company Strategy	232
5.11.2	Intel Realsense Cameras And Ascending Technologies’ Asctec Trinity 234	
5.11.3	Intel Capital	235
5.12 I-Lap Timing Systems	236
5.13 Knorr-Bremse Group / Bendix	237
5.13.1 Bendix	237
5.14 L-3 Communication	238
5.14.1 L3 Communications	238
5.14.2 L-3 Aerospace Systems	240
5.14.3	L-3 Electronic Systems	240
5.14.4 L-3 Communication Systems	240
5.14.5	L-3 National Security Solutions	240
5.14.6 L-3 Revenue by Segment	241
5.14.7 L-3 Communication / Lynx	242
5.15 MarcusUAV	244
5.16 Micro-Avionix	244
5.16.1	Access to the Dronecode Application Ecosystem Open Source Platform 245 
5.17 MMist	246
5.17.1	MMIST Sherpatm Guided Parachute System	246
5.17.2 MMIST SnowGoosetm CQ-10A Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)	247
5.18 Northrop Grumman	247
5.18.1 Northrop Grumman Revenue	248
5.18.2 Northrop Grumman Remotec	253
5.18.3	Northrop Grumman Leading Global Security Company	254
5.18.4	Northrop Grumman Supplies Marine Navigation Equipment	256
5.18.5	Northrop Grumman Recognized by UK Ministry of Defense for Role in Supporting Sentry AWACS Aircraft During Military Operations in Libya	257
5.18.6	Northrop Grumman Corporation Subsidiary Remotec Inc. upgrade the U.S. Air Force fleet of Andros HD-1	257
5.18.7 Northrop Grumman NAV CANADA Supplier	258
5.19 Rockwell Collins	259
5.20 Sagetech Corporation	261
5.21 Textron	263
5.22 Trig Avionics	266
5.22.1	Trig Design And Engineering	267
WinterGreen Research,	268
WinterGreen Research Research Methodology	269

List of Tables and Figures

Figure 2-1 Parrot S.A. Bebop Commercial Drone		27
Figure 2-2		Parrot S.A. Bebop Commercial Drone Controller	28
Table ES-3		Self-Regulation of Drones Using Transponders Benefits	31
Table ES-4		Drone Transponder Market Driving Forces	33
Table ES-5		Likely Leading Participants in Drone Transponders	34
Table 2-		Drone Transponder Market Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022	36
Table 1-1		Beyond Visual Line Of Sight BVLOS Component Systems	38
Figure 1-		Drone Needs Transponder for Identification	41
Table 1-		Drone Transponder Self-Regulation Benefits	43
Figure 2-		Drone Package Delivery: Amazon Prime Air	45
Figure 2-		Drone Package Delivery		46
Figure 1-		Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast ADS-B Transponder	47
Figure 2-		DJI Share of FAA Drone Operations Exceptions	56
Table 1-1		Ability Of Commercial Drones To Perform Delivery Function	61
Figure 2-1		Parrot S.A. Bebop Commercial Drone		65
Figure 2-2		Parrot S.A. Bebop Commercial Drone Controller	66
Table 2-3	Self-Regulation of Drones Using Transponders Benefits	68
Table 2-Drone Transponder Market Driving Forces	70
Table 2-5Likely Leading Participants in Drone Transponders	71
Figure 2-6	Sagetech ADS-B In/Out Transponder	73
Table 2-7	Drone Transponder Market Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide,	792016-2022	79
Table 2-8	Drone Transponder Aerial Systems Market Forecasts and Market Penetration,	Units and Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022	80
Figure 2-9	Drone Aerial Systems Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022	81
Table 2-10	Drone Aerial Systems Market Forecasts Dollars, Worldwide,	822016-2022	82
Table 2-11	Drone Aerial Systems Market Forecasts, Units, Worldwide, 2016-2022	82
Table 2-12	Drone Market Segment Applications	83
Table 2-13	Drone Aerial Systems by Sector, Military, Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Border Patrol, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Disaster Response, Package Delivery,Photography, Videography, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022	85
Table 2-14	Drone Issues Beyond Line Of Sight	93
Figure 2-15	Drone Robot Aerial Systems Vehicle (UAS) Regional Market Segments, Dollars,2015	95	
Figure 3-1	Sagetech-XP-Family-Transponder Size	101
Table 3-2	Sagetech Transponder Features	102
Figure 3-3	Sagetech-XP-Family-Transponder	103
Figure 3-4	Sagetech Target Markets	103
Figure 3-5	Sagetech-XP-Family-Transponder Specifications	104
Table 3-6	Microadsb Wireless Receiver Features	109
Figure 3-7	Trig TT31 Mode S ADS-B Capable Transponder	116
Table 3-8	Trig TT31 Features:	117
Figure 3-9	Trig Transponders	119
Figure 3-10	Lynx Mode S transponder	120
Figure 3-11	Lynx NGT-9000 Transponder Quick Features	121
Figure 3-12		Transponder Controls Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace	122
Figure 3-13		Stratus™ 2S ADS-B Receiver for iPad		123
Figure 3-14		Stratus Esg Transponder		124
Table 3-15		Stratus ESG Transponder Features		125
Figure 3-16		Rockwell Collins Transponders		126
Table 3-17		Rockwell Collins’ TDR-94D Transponder Key Features	127
Table 3-18		Rockwell Collins’ TDR-94D Transponder Key Benefits	128
Figure 3-19		Rockwell Collins TDR-94-94D Mode S Transponder	129
Figure 3-20		Bendix / King Kt 74 Ads-B Mode S Transponder	130
Table 3-21		Bendix / King Kt 74 ADS-B Mode S Transponder Benefits	131
Table 3-22		Bendix / King Kt 74 ADS-B Mode S Transponder Functions	132
Table 3-23		Garmin GTX 345 Transponder		133
Figure 3-24		I-Laps Drone Transponder		137
Figure 3-25		Micro-Avionix ADS-B suitable for UAVs of All Sizes	144
Table 3-26		Textron Systems Global Observer System Homeland Security Functions	146
Table 3-27		Textron Systems Global Observer Features	148
Figure 3-28		Nano Air Advanced Development Aircraft:	149
Figure 3-29		Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 UAS		150
Table 3-30		Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 Features		152
Table 3-31		Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 Multi-mission, Multi-role ISR System Components:152			
Table 3-32		Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 Multi-Mission, Multi-Role ISR System Features   153
Table 3-33		Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 UAS Multi-mission, Multi-role ISR System TCU SystemFeatures		154
Table 3-34		Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 UAS Multi-mission, Multi-role ISR System TCU SystemFeatures		155
Figure 3-35		Denel Dynamics Hungwe UAS		156
Table 4-1		Lloyd’s Register Drone Technology Guidance Notes	164
Figure 4-2		UgCS Identification of Aircraft		169
Table 4-3		UgCS Supported Drones		170
Figure 4-4		DJI Drones Supported by UgCS		171
Figure 4-5		3DRobotics Drones Supported by UgCS		172
Figure 4-6		Lockheed Martin Drones Supported by UgCS	173
Figure 4-7		Mikrokopter Drones Supported by UgCS		174
Figure 4-8		Micropilot Drones Supported by UgCS		175
Figure 4-9		Microdrones Drones Supported by UgCS		176
Figure 4-10		Parrot Drones Supported by UgCS		177
Table 4-11		Drone Transponder Technology		178
Table 4-12		Drone Use Regulation Issues		182
Figure 4-13		Drone Test Sites Selected by the FAA		183
Table 4-14		Drone operator Responsibilities With a Section 333 exemption	184
Figure 4-15		FAA Drone Exemptions by Use Case		185
Figure 4-16		DJI Share of FAA Drone Operations Exceptions	187
Table 4-17		Military Drone Technology Key Requirements	190
Figure 4-18		US Military DISA Drone Architecture		191
Figure 4-19		Drone Operational Architecture		192
Table 5-1		Airogistic drone Endpoint Technology Applications	198
Figure 5-2		DJI Drone		202
Figure 5-3		DJI Phantom		205
Figure 5-4		Fortem Omnipresence 3D Airport Security Management Software	210
Table 5-5		Fortem Omnipresence 3D Airport Security Management Software	211
Table 5-6		Garmin Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Used:	214
Table 5-7		Google Autonomous Vehicles Technology		221
Figure 5-8		236I-Laprc Drone Race Timing System Transponder	236
Table 5-9		L-3: Positioning		239
Table 5-10		Northrop Grumman Partner Of Choice	248
Figure 5-11	Northrop Grumman Systems Segments	254
Figure 5-12	Northrop Grumman Portfolio	255
Table 5-13	Rockwell Collins Core Competencies:	261
Table 5-14	Textron First Quarter 2015 Segment Results	264
Table 5-15	Textron Brands	265