Ditching the 'dish'

Shigeki Tomoyama, senior managing officer for Toyota Motor Corp., with a research vehicle based on the Mirai fuel cell car that could aid in the company’s wider consideration of satellite communications in vehicles. Toyota has partnered with Kymeta, a U.S. maker of flat-panel antennas, to provide antennas for data transmission to cars. Toyota says satellite communications can benefit the auto industry by distributing key data to vehicles, deploying connected vehicles and providing stable and secure communications in emergencies. But conventional satellite technologies traditionally required a “dish” antenna on the ground. Kymeta’s satellite antennas remove the need for mechanical components by using software and liquid crystal technologies to electronically track and steer toward satellites. “For several years, Toyota met with emerging companies around the world to investigate new technologies,” Tomoyama said. “We were very excited to learn about Kymeta, because their flat antenna technology could solve the challenge of vehicle-based satellite communications.”