GUAP Develops Bridge for Seamless Connectivity Across Devices
Students and researchers at Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (GUAP) have developed an inter-technology bridge that connects different networks into a unified digital space without requiring changes to older hardware. The device was presented at the university’s 79th International Student Scientific Conference.
According to him, the development is a step toward the concept of a “besshovnoye tsifrovoye nebo” (seamless digital sky concept), where drones, spacecraft, and aircraft can communicate within a unified network. The bridge is particularly useful for connecting legacy devices to high-speed communication channels without altering their design.
The university plans to assemble its first multiprotocol network with a “seamless sky” by 2028 and complete field testing by 2030, when a spacecraft will be able to transmit data to an unmanned aerial vehicle and a ground station.
Other developments from GUAP include a mobile ground platform for testing control algorithms for small satellites. The team also showcased student-built drones, including a racing quadcopter, a training autonomous drone called “Buran,” and a mapping drone capable of independently generating 3D maps of indoor spaces for navigation and inventory management.
