Innovative Electric Masts for Drones by 1ms Team
The Ukrainian team 1ms has developed cutting-edge electric masts known as "Smart mast" to provide communication for reconnaissance drones and FPV drones in combat zones. Two models, standing 4 and 8 meters tall, were showcased at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition.
These masts are designed based on military feedback, highlighting that traditional communication device setups can take approximately 40 minutes, which is impractical amid ongoing shelling.
The development of this new device spanned around 18 months. Thanks to an efficient design, the deployment time is reduced to just 1-2 minutes, depending on the model.
The design of the "Smart mast" focuses on portability, allowing a single soldier to carry the mast on their shoulder and quickly set up the communication equipment. The weight of the 4-meter mast is 13 kg, while the 6-meter variant weighs 19 kg. A 12-meter version weighing 24 kg is also in development.
"These masts can serve multiple purposes. They can lift repeaters for signal transmission between the operator and the drone, or antennas for controlling an FPV drone or an interceptor drone. In civilian applications, masts can be fitted with lighting equipment or surveillance cameras," explains developer Volodymyr.
For effective communication, the masts are equipped with a tilting mechanism to direct the antenna towards the drone. In the future, this mechanism will be enhanced with automatic tracking capabilities to adjust the antenna's direction autonomously.
"We have already received requests to install similar systems on ground robotic complexes to deploy them on the front lines for monitoring hot spots. They can also be mounted on pickups or other vehicles," Volodymyr emphasizes.
The majority of components used in production are sourced from Ukraine, with only a few bearings and metal profiles being imported. Most parts are machined, cut, or printed in-house on their own equipment.
Currently, the masts have been successfully tested in the field, utilized by a UAV control center and a unit in the Kharkiv region. Based on the operational experience, adjustments are being made before the start of mass production, scheduled for the second half of autumn.
Initially, the production capacity will be 20 8-meter masts per month, with plans to increase output to 50 units per month. The cost of one unit will be approximately 160,000 UAH.
The team applied for a Brave1 grant and received expert support for the modernization and codification of their product before mass production begins.
