What To Know
- As indicated a statement On May 2, 2024, the startup established a Bluetooth connection in space, linking two satellites located more than 600 kilometers from each other.
- In reality, the goal of the Hubble Network is to develop a global satellite network accessible to any device capable of connecting via Bluetooth.
- By challenging the limits of Bluetooth, Hubble Network seems to have paved the way towards a new era of connectivity without any hardware modification.
Recently, an American start-up achieved a remarkable feat by establishing a Bluetooth connection in space. Indeed, this company managed to connect two of its satellites located several hundred kilometers from each other, a major first. This could, among other things, revolutionize the Internet of Things (IoT) by allowing sensors, trackers and wearables to connect in real time and over long distances.
A simple software update
For some observers, the Hubble Network company has recently achieved A giant step for Bluetooth. As indicated a statement On May 2, 2024, the startup established a Bluetooth connection in space, linking two satellites located more than 600 kilometers from each other. In early March, SpaceX’s Transporter-10 mission launched the two satellites in question from the Space Force’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Several weeks later, both devices received signals from a simple 3.5mm Bluetooth chipThis feat was made possible by a software update to some classic Bluetooth devices. This update allows these devices to connect to the Hubble Network satellite network. without the need for cellular connection. But what could be the point of such an initiative? “Traditional networks often face insufficient coverage, complex integrations, high battery consumption and prohibitive costs, which limits their practicality and reach.”we can read in the press release.
Credits: Hubble Network
Towards a new era of connectivity
In reality, the goal of the Hubble Network is to develop a global satellite network accessible to any device capable of connecting via Bluetooth. If successful, the possible applications are numerous and will include the Internet of Things (IoT), logistics and natural resource management. In addition, the start-up promises a twenty times lower battery consumption and fifty times lower operating costs. This is possible thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), a technology that differs from classic Bluetooth in its long-distance transmission and low-power capabilities. By challenging the limits of Bluetooth, Hubble Network seems to have paved the way towards a new era of connectivity without any hardware modification. However, this innovation could have a more than significant impact since around five million Bluetooth devices are sold worldwide each year.
