Certified Robustness According to MIL Standard Command at the Touch of a Button

Modern defence increasingly relies on intelligent drone technology. These unmanned systems require robust and reliable control technology for smooth operation. Professional ground control stations (GCS) also function in remote locations, withstand harsh environmental conditions, and can be operated in a targeted manner.

In military applications, professional control systems must be able to withstand more than the drone itself—because they ensure operation under all conditions. What's more, the performance of the drone depends crucially on the quality of the ground control systems, the Ground Control Stations (GCS). In order to optimally control complex drone operations under different operating conditions, modern controllers such as the new GCS series from TL Electronic are characterized by special core features. These include, for example, an operating concept based on the military HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) principle. This allows all important control functions to be performed directly via joystick and throttle control—without the operator having to take their hands off the controls. This maintains full control while allowing the operator to intuitively perform complex functions.

Soldiers can thus easily distinguish between the components tactilely and operate them intuitively without having to look away. For example, while the left joystick controls the camera tilt, the right joystick can be used to precisely adjust the drone's position. At the same time, the roller switches control zoom and speed. A function key directly triggers a photo with a time stamp—without any detours. Especially in time-critical missions, these haptic controls make a real difference.

The company based in Bergkirchen (Germany) near Munich, which belongs to the Taiwanese Winmate Group, manufactures compact and mobile ground control stations (GCS) with display diagonals ranging from 5 to 15.6 inches. The rugged handheld controller G101TG, for example, was specially developed as a robust ground control station for military applications. It can withstand extreme conditions such as temperature, dust, moisture, and vibrations, while remaining highly accurate in an operating temperature range of -10 to +50°C (approx. -50 to +122°F). The G101TG can withstand shocks, vibrations, and drops from 1.2 meters (approx. 4 ft), as measured according to the high military standard MIL-STD-810H Method 516.6. In addition, the control unit has a high protection rating of IP65 in accordance with DIN EN 60529 (IEC 60529) and is therefore completely dustproof and protected against water jets.
In addition, the controller complies with international EMC and safety standards such as CE and FCC, as well as the military EMC standard MIL-STD-461G, which ensures reliable operation even under extreme electromagnetic conditions—a crucial factor for use in military operations.

Encryption and real-time processing

A key point between the operator and the drone is the integration of security-related functions such as TPM ICs (Trusted Platform Module Integrated Circuit), i.e., hardware-based IT security, and OPAL SSDs for encrypted data storage. In addition, customer-specific hardware can be embedded in the G101TG ground control station. In ground control stations, computing speed is crucial so that the control system can process large amounts of data in real time, enabling the drone to respond accurately and quickly.

The G101TG ground control station offers very low latency combined with powerful CPU (central processing unit) computing power. The Tiger Lake processor has an integrated video software decoder for high-resolution real-time video playback. This extra feature is important because drones, whether operated manually or autonomously, have built-in cameras for machine vision, environmental and object recognition, and navigation. The software-based decoder processes this image data in real time in the controller, enabling soldiers to make faster and better decisions. This technology is crucial for the drone's maneuverability, for example, to ensure stable flight in difficult, dynamic environments such as confined spaces, strong winds, and obstacles. Even if the drone has an advanced flight stabilization system and adaptive control algorithms, users benefit from real-time tracking and target acquisition through high-resolution video transmission.

Precise control with clear visibility

A 2-megapixel camera is integrated into the front of the control unit itself. With its low-reflection 10.1-inch multi-touch display (approx. 26 cm), the G101TG offers excellent readability even in strong sunlight—thanks to 800 cd/m² luminance as standard or up to 1750 cd/m² on request. The projected capacitive touch panel can be operated with gloves and is therefore ideal for use in the field.The 16:10 format display corresponds to the natural human field of vision. Combined with a high resolution of 1920×1200 pixels, it ensures precise display of telemetry data, maps, and camera feeds—and thus greater control, safety, and efficiency when operating unmanned systems.The numerous interfaces allow the GCS series from TL Electronic to be easily integrated into various scenarios. The integrated GPS module also enables location tracking, for example.

Conclusion

The trend toward unmanned drones in the air force, navy, and army will continue to grow in the coming years. Thanks to their high efficiency, ergonomics, and performance, the controllers in the GCS series from TL Electronic are a central interface and intelligent control unit between humans and a wide variety of drone types—whether for reconnaissance, escort protection, or tactical missions.