Drone control station Command Core: Getac launches rugged control solution

Command Core is the name of the rugged drone control station whose market launch Getac Technology Corporation recently announced. The company offers rugged computing and mobile video solutions.

Command Core combines Getac hardware with industry-specific accessories, specialised equipment and software, each tailored to individual requirements and mission scenarios. The result is a comprehensive, flexible control solution for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), unmanned surface vessels (USV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). It can be adapted to different environments and fields of application – such as defence, civil protection and public safety.

The rugged, highly configurable platform for ground control stations is aimed at drone manufacturers, system integrators and mission system providers. At its core is the Getac Ground Control Station (GCS): it serves as a central, always-ready hub for real-time data processing, drone control under extreme conditions and overall management of operating parameters. Customers decide which Getac devices to use depending on their GCS requirements – options include the ZX80 Android tablet, the UX10 Windows tablet, the B360 Windows notebook and the X600 Windows workstation, all fully rugged, as well as the rugged S510 Windows notebook.

The GCS form factor can also be chosen individually. On offer are a fully integrated design with built-in drone control and an accessory variant in which the Getac device can be detached from externally housed drone control units when required. There is also an office dock design and a comprehensive dual-display case solution intended for mobile control centres and command posts.

Modular platform with rugged design

Command Core is designed from the ground up to reliably withstand harsh, unpredictable and mission-critical operating conditions without compromising on performance. The rugged design ensures reliability in the field. The scalable and configurable system architecture, in turn, allows customised solutions or extensions, for example when operational requirements in security-critical sectors change.

In addition, the drone control station can be integrated into different drone IT systems. It is compatible with third-party technologies and supports long-term, collaborative system development. The ground control station is available in an Android and a Windows option; the stable, powerful computing platform supports mission-critical operations in real time.

Applications of the drone control station

With drone use increasing in almost every sector worldwide, the need for versatile remote control stations is also growing considerably— Eric Yeh, Managing Director of Getac Technology Corporation

Command Core is a response to this and offers personnel who work in demanding environments every day a highly customisable, rugged control solution that can be relied on whenever needed.— Eric Yeh, Managing Director of Getac Technology Corporation

In defence, Command Core supports intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) from mobile as well as semi-stationary command posts. The system delivers real-time information for mission planning and execution strategies on land, at sea and in the air. Its performance makes it suitable for supporting the requirements of army aviation and integrated air defence systems; it provides operators with the control and data visualisation that mission-critical tactical situations demand.

The system can take on similar tasks in civil protection and public safety. In disaster management, drone reconnaissance is now central, whether in fires, floods or search and rescue operations. With Command Core, first responders gather important information quickly and efficiently – either from nearby mobile command vehicles or directly on site via a portable control centre.