The Bluetooth accessories around us, such as keyboards, game controllers or headphones, have a limited range to a few meters. If we move too far away, the wireless link begins to have problems until it disconnects. Despite this reality, a startup has achieved something that seemed technically impossible: establishing a Bluetooth connection between the surface of our planet and space.
Hubble Network has announced that its orbiting satellites have successfully received signals from a Bluetooth chip embedded in a ground-based device. The firm assures that this is the first big step to develop a low-consumption, economical-to-operate global connectivity system that is useful for various activities. From logistics to soil temperature monitoring.
A Bluetooth connection 600 km away
The startup, which has been backed by a $20 million Serial A funding round, launched its first two satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on its shared Transporter-10 mission. Both teams, which orbit at a distance of about 600 km from the surfacehave managed to communicate with at least one terrestrial Bluetooth chip thanks to what they consider an innovative system.
As we know, Bluetooth range is determined by a wide variety of technical factors, including radio spectrum, receiver sensitivity, transmit power, and antenna gain. Hubble Network equipped its satellites with phased array antennas that function as a small magnifying lens that allows connection to the chip on Earth.
Although the technology is in the experimental phase, the firm does not hesitate to put several examples of use on the table. First of all, they point out that it is not necessary to have special Bluetooth chips and that a Firmware update In existing equipment it is sufficient to allow connection with its satellites. So they see themselves connecting equipment from the energy, agriculture and transportation industries.
The current roadmap includes the launch of 34 more satellites. One will launch with SpaceX’s Transporter-11 mission this summer and another with the Transporter-13 mission later. The rest of the satellites will be sent between the fourth quarter of 2025 and early 2025, although the company has not yet contracted these latest launches. We have to wait to see how this interesting project will evolve.
Images | Rawpixel.com | Hubble Network
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