Digi connects engineers at remote rocket test sites

Citation

(2009), "Digi connects engineers at remote rocket test sites", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2009.12781eaf.001

Digi connects engineers at remote rocket test sites

Article Type: Features From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 81, Issue 5

Founded in 1997, SpaceDev is a space technology/aerospace company that creates and sells affordable and innovative space products and mission solutions. The company is dedicated to developing practical ways to make a new and wider variety of space activities profitable and commercially available. In order to develop smaller, innovative, affordable commercial space products, SpaceDev frequently conducts rocket tests at remote locations where internet connectivity may not be available. In addition to its own remote test sites, teams of SpaceDev engineers must also frequently visit customers' remote sites.

Since rocket test sites are often far away from civilisation, internet connectivity is often an issue. SpaceDev did not have connectivity at its own test site, and its customers had similar connectivity issues. SpaceDev, therefore, turned to Digi international for its Digi Wi-Point 3G, a PC card based 3G cellular router with integrated Wi-Fi access point. It acts as a cellular-to-Wi-Fi hotspot and provides secure, high-speed internet access to remote workgroups and devices.

Figure 1 SpaceDev use Dig Wi-Point 3G for internet connectivity at their test site

“Our current rocket test site (Figure 1) is far enough away from phone lines and other means of connectivity that a cabled solution just wasn't feasible,” said Jon Martin, Director of Information Technology, SpaceDev. “We test rockets at least two miles from civilization, so we usually have no wired connectivity. The Digi Wi-Point 3G allowed us to set up a permanent Wi-Fi hotspot at our own test site as well as ‘on the fly’ hotspots at our customer sites. Now our engineers can send data back to headquarters wherever they are.”

Reliable and cost effective

SpaceDev uses the Digi Wi-Point 3G as a permanent internet connection for its remote rocket testing site as well as for mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. It is said to be rugged, small, lightweight and highly portable.

“We have never had any problems with our fixed Digi Wi-Point 3G or with the box we are using at customer sites,” Martin said. “The equipment is very reliable and very easy to set-up. It is simply plug-and-play using any cellular PC card, and we have a Wi-Fi network up and running within 30 seconds.”

In addition to being reliable and rugged, SpaceDev enjoys cost savings in comparison to other connectivity options. Martin estimates that if using a T-1 landline were possible, the ongoing costs would have been twice as expensive. For use in the field, he estimates the costs would be five times as expensive if he had to provide an EVDO card to every traveling engineer. Using the Digi Wi-Point 3G, the engineers are able to share one connection.

“The Digi Wi-Point 3G is the only solution that could provide internet access to our test site and is cheaper than a T-1,” Martin added. “We also have a limited number of EVDO PC cards to check out to engineers. We now only use these when engineers are travelling alone.”

Industry leading support

Martin has also been very pleased with the level of technical and customer support he has received from Digi.

“When we were establishing the VPN tunnel to the Digi device we were trying to do so through a sonic wall which means we had two complicated devices needing to communicate,” Martin said. “A Digi engineer walked me through the process over the phone as well as through a network test to make sure it was all up and working. He had me up and going quickly and effectively.”

Martin has been using the products now for nearly a year.

“These devices serve a very specialized purpose,” Martin concluded. “If Digi didn't develop these products I don't know where I would have turned. I appreciate Digi thinking ‘outside the box’ to come up with a solution that meets our specific needs.”