Case Study – ShellHub in the Aerospace Sector (Autonomous Drones)
How an Aerospace Company Streamlined Support for Spray and Sanitization Drones with ShellHub
The Challenge
An aerospace company specializing in autonomous drones for spraying and sanitizing faced critical challenges in managing and maintaining its embedded Linux systems remotely.
Technical challenges:
- Drones equipped with embedded Linux, connected via unstable 4G/5G networks.
- Devices constantly operating in remote or dynamic environments (fields, urban areas, industrial zones).
- The need for secure, real-time support access during live missions.
Business impact:
- Operational delays due to unresolvable in-field issues.
- High costs due to drone recalls for maintenance.
- Lack of visibility and auditability over remote technician access.
The Solution: ShellHub
The company deployed ShellHub to enable fast, secure, and low-latency access to all drones, even in areas with strict network configurations.
Implementation highlights:
- ShellHub agent embedded into the drones’ custom Linux build.
- Connection through port 443, bypassing most firewalls and NAT issues.
- Use of namespaces and geolocation-based dynamic tags for mission-specific fleet management.
Measurable Results
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. technician response time | 6h | 5min |
| On-site interventions | High | Rare |
| Remote diagnostics | Not available | Instant |
| Drones managed remotely | 0 | 120+ |
Highlights:
- Reliable remote access even with unstable mobile networks.
- Real-time failure resolution without mission interruption.
- Full auditability and security policy compliance.
Takeaways
- ShellHub adapts seamlessly to mobile, distributed environments like drone fleets.
- WebSocket over HTTPS ensures consistent connectivity in unreliable network conditions.
- Public-key-based access and audit logs meet aerospace-grade compliance requirements.
Next Steps
The company is testing UpdateHub to perform secure, automated OTA firmware updates, with rollback, reducing the need for device recall or physical access.
Operate field-based or mobile Linux devices?
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or contact our team: comercial@ossystems.com.br