CHRP-I: Adding Imagery to a low-cost multi-network / multi-path horizontal communications communication hub and routing platform

CHRP-I provides the capability to send and receive imagery over a low-cost mesh network. The data will then be transferred when available over a high bandwidth SATCOM link to Fire management personnel. Groups have been exploring methods of sending “Multi-Packet LoRa (MPLR), for transmission of large messages, such as images, in LoRa networks”. The consensus is that it is “challenging but possible with some using new protocols in order to alleviate the low data rate that LoRa has, while others use the physical layer in order to overcome the packet collision problem and few methods deal with the compact image representation” . There have been hobbyists developing solutions. A library called loracamera allows transmission of sound and images over a 915MHz LoRa link to a base station near a Wi-Fi connection. Currently it is set up to a send a frame from a serial TTL camera and a few seconds of sound from a microphone, but it can be adapted for most data using LoRa directly. CHRP-I will provide a carry-on solution for ground personnel and aircraft.