Airborne Mesh Networking for Drones Swarms and Robots
Callsign: Finch
Rajant’s ultra-lightweight, embedded wireless mesh module, engineered to deliver secure, resilient communications for drones, autonomous vehicles, and swarm operations at the forward edge. Drones are not just users of the network; they become part of the network.
Designed as an OEM-integrated platform, Finch enables airborne and lightweight autonomous systems to operate as part of a unified, self-healing mesh network, maintaining connectivity in motion, beyond line of sight, and without reliance on fixed infrastructure or centralized control.
Powered by Rajant’s patented InstaMesh® networking software, Finch transforms individual drones into collaborative networked assets, extending command, telemetry, video, and sensor data wherever the mission demands. Supports manned–unmanned teaming by enabling drones and autonomous platforms to operate as full participants in the mesh network.
When autonomy takes flight, Finch keeps the network airborne.
Product Overview
Mesh Networking Purpose-Built for Drones and Autonomy
Finch (DX5) is Rajant’s smallest and lightest BreadCrumb®, engineered specifically for SWaP-constrained platforms operating at the forward edge. Weighing as little as 47 grams (without heatsinks), Finch is optimized for integration into small UAVs, drone swarms, and lightweight autonomous systems.
Despite its minimal footprint, Finch operates as a full participant in Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh® network, dynamically routing traffic, adapting to movement, and scaling seamlessly alongside larger BreadCrumb nodes.
Designed for Airborne and Embedded Platforms
- Ultra-compact, board-level design for OEM integration
- Dual- and triple-stream MIMO configurations
- Supports unlicensed and licensed spectrum options
- Integrates directly with flight computers and edge systems
Finch enables resilient mesh communications where size, weight, and power constraints once limited network reach.
Drone & Swarm Operations
Networking for Coordinated Autonomous Systems
Finch is purpose-built to support individual drones and coordinated swarms operating in dynamic, contested environments. Its self-forming mesh architecture allows autonomous platforms to maintain peer-to-peer connectivity while in constant motion.
Forward Edge Applications
- Drone swarms and collaborative UAV operations
- ISR and mobile surveillance platforms
- Autonomous resupply and logistics drones
- Unmanned ground and aerial teaming
- Mobile telemetry and sensor networks
Operational Advantages
- Range is a network outcome, not a single RF link.
- Enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and drone-to-drone communications
- Maintains connectivity without ground infrastructure
- Scales efficiently to hundreds of mobile nodes
- Supports real-time video, telemetry, and command data
Finch allows autonomous systems to function as a coordinated force, not isolated platforms.
Security & Network Architecture
Secure Mesh at the Airborne Edge
Finch incorporates the same security architecture trusted across Rajant’s military mesh portfolio, ensuring data integrity and trust even in decentralized and highly mobile environments.
Forward Edge Security
- Multiple cryptographic options, including NSA Suite B-based algorithms (implementation dependent)
- Separately configurable data and MAC-layer encryption
- Per-hop, per-packet authentication between nodes
- Compatible with existing Layer-2 and Layer-3 security frameworks
Mesh Without Central Control
- No controller, master node, or fixed root
- Self-healing paths adapt instantly as drones maneuver or leave the network
- Secure communications persist even under node loss or RF disruption
Finch delivers trusted communications where airborne assets must operate independently—and collectively.
Specifications
Mission-Relevant Highlights
- Form factor: ultra-lightweight OEM module (as low as 47g)
- Wireless: Up to 12 different radio card options with 2×2 or 3×3 MIMO options
- Throughput: supports high-bandwidth video, voice, and telemetry
- Networking: InstaMesh® Layer-2 mesh with VLAN, QoS, APT
- Interfaces: Ethernet, USB-C, serial-over-mesh (Ser2Net)
- Power: 5V input via USB or auxiliary connector
- Environmental: designed for integration into protected airborne systems
Finch delivers full mesh capability in a footprint small enough for flight.
Place Your Order Today
Please fill out the form to be connected with the appropriate Rajant representative for purchasing. We’ll show you how to utilize the our products to your advantage to build a fully mobile, mission-critical mesh infrastructure with high throughput for virtually any automated industrial environment.
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Assisting the entire team with the validation of the installation, configuration, and ramp-up of the testing phase was a highly rewarding experience. Through this project, I gained valuable insights into rail operations, which became a key learning opportunity for me. Additionally, I contributed to the delivery of training during the implementation phase, as part of the Sales Engineering team’s responsibilities.
Daniel Souza
Sales Engineer, LATAM – Rajant
You can’t drive video through a hill. There’s just not enough bandwidth. By putting up a Rajant network, it allows us to attach cameras to each of those Rajant nodes. The more we have, the more bandwidth we get.
Andy Stein
Think Vertical Now
The Rajant network is so reliable that you’re going to see an ROI almost immediately. We were able to see a $1M ROI in a year. We paid for the network within six months.
Brian Hunt
JR Simplot Company
The Kinetic Mesh is quite unique. The flexibility of the Rajant hardware is what’s critical.
Dale Birt
FTP Solutions
Open architecture enables interoperability between systems. Rajant is always looking ahead.
Ale Walker
Gray Solutions
For the Royal Wedding, it became quite apparent during the design process that using conventional point-to-point/multipoint would not suffice in the urban environment of Windsor, making Rajant’s mesh network a superior solution.
Thames Valley Police Member | Great Britain
Other wireless technologies, including the latest 5G, all have the same physical limitation: Wireless cannot pass through large, metal container stacks. Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh M2M technology allows the vehicles to talk to each other, which is critical to communicating fleet directions between container stacks.
Matthias Krause
DGWorld
Downtime is really the critical factor in our business. We just cannot afford interruptions, and with Rajant’s technology, we have virtually none.
Ed Darcy
President, Mealey’s Furniture
Our engineering team’s proposal to address this problem only worked because we used Rajant and its unique mesh feature, which is designed for this challenging environment.
Francisco Casals
CTO of Mining Tag Chile
You’ve got to be able to maintain connectivity and access your key performance indicators. Whether it’s sensors, people, or tablets, Rajant enables us to provide not only bandwidth and low latency but also support the needed applications.
Dustin Jurman
Rapid Systems
Using Rajant mesh technology, Kinross has reduced the need for technical staff to deploy repeaters in the network, while improving security and decreasing the number of personnel inside the mine.
Cleiton Arruda
Business Consultant, SITECH/Grupo Sotreq
We found Rajant’s solid track record in military operations reassuring. Its mesh networks have delivered many benefits in those rugged, dynamic environments.
Bob Wingle
Senior Technology Engineer | ASARCO Ray Mine
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rajant Kinetic Mesh® technology?
Rajant Kinetic Mesh® is an Intelligent Edge networking technology designed for dynamic, mobile environments where traditional fixed infrastructure falls short.
Unlike conventional wireless systems, it enables continuous, adaptive connectivity across moving assets, people, and devices. Powering Industrial AI applications that demand resilience, low latency, and real-time decision-making.
How do Rajant’s BreadCrumb® wireless nodes enhance network connectivity?
Rajant’s BreadCrumb® nodes are the building blocks of a self-forming, self-healing Kinetic Mesh® network.
Each node communicates directly with every other, creating a web of redundant, high-throughput connections that ensure uninterrupted communication, even when conditions change or assets move.
This decentralized design eliminates single points of failure, maximizing uptime and mobility.
InstaMesh® vs. conventional point-to-point connections.
Conventional point-to-point networks depend on fixed links that can break under motion or interference.
Rajant’s InstaMesh® routing protocol dynamically reroutes traffic in real time, automatically choosing the fastest, most reliable path.
The result: continuous, mobile, and intelligent connectivity for operations that never stop moving.
What are the benefits of Rajant’s InstaMesh® for IIoT applications?
For Industrial IoT environments, InstaMesh® provides the low-latency, adaptive communication required to keep machines, sensors, and AI systems synchronized.
It delivers instant data exchange, self-healing reliability, and scalable capacity, empowering predictive maintenance, automation, and autonomous decision-making at the edge.
How can Rajant Kinetic Mesh support real-time tele-operations in mines?
Mining operations depend on remote visibility and control where connectivity is often limited.
Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh® delivers real-time communication and video streaming for tele-remote equipment and autonomous vehicles, even underground.
Its multi-radio BreadCrumb® nodes maintain reliable signal and low latency. Keeping operators safely in control from any distance.
Rajant Kinetic Mesh network vs. traditional WiFi solutions.
Traditional WiFi networks are static, fragile, and reliant on centralized infrastructure.
Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh® replaces those limits with a dynamic, peer-to-peer architecture, where every node acts as both transmitter and receiver.
This ensures continuous, adaptive coverage, ideal for moving assets and mission-critical applications where downtime is not an option.
Discover Rajant’s solutions for tunnel communications.
Tunnels and underground environments are notoriously difficult for wireless communication.
Rajant’s BreadCrumb® nodes create a linear, mobile mesh network that maintains signal integrity through long corridors, curves, and obstructions.
This allows real-time monitoring, voice, and video for mining, utilities, and public safety teams.
How does Rajant’s technology enhance machine-to-machine communication?
Rajant’s InstaMesh® routing enables machines to communicate directly and continuously, without depending on static access points.
This machine-to-machine (M2M) intelligence ensures critical data is shared instantly, fueling automation, robotics coordination, and AI-driven optimization across industrial environments.
Cost of implementing a Rajant Kinetic Mesh network.
Implementation costs vary based on network size, environment, and application.
However, Rajant’s decentralized design significantly reduces the need for fixed infrastructure, cabling, or complex configuration.
Resulting in a lower total cost of ownership and faster ROI compared to traditional networking systems.
How do BreadCrumb® nodes work in enhancing network resilience?
Each BreadCrumb® acts as a multi-radio, multi-frequency transceiver that maintains multiple simultaneous connections.
If one path is interrupted, InstaMesh® instantly reroutes data through another, creating always-on resilience that keeps communications live even under extreme conditions.
Maximize network uptime with Rajant’s solutions.
Rajant eliminates the single points of failure found in traditional networks.
Its multi-path, self-healing mesh keeps assets connected, even as they move, ensuring maximum uptime and operational continuity in industries where every second counts.
What industries benefit most from Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh technology?
Rajant’s Intelligent Edge networks power operations across mining, ports, logistics, defense, manufacturing, public safety, agriculture, and energy.
Wherever mobile assets, automation, and Industrial AI intersect, Rajant delivers real-time, reliable communication to keep data flowing and decisions immediate.
Comparing Rajant Kinetic Mesh with LTE solutions.
LTE depends on centralized infrastructure and licensed spectrum, creating latency and coverage limits.
Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh® offers a private, infrastructure-free alternative with ultra-low latency, flexible frequency use, and no dependency on towers or carriers. It’s built for mobility, autonomy, and data sovereignty.
Rajant Kinetic Mesh network integration with existing infrastructure.
Rajant networks are designed for seamless integration.
BreadCrumb® nodes connect easily with existing Ethernet, LTE, and satellite systems extending coverage, strengthening resilience, and modernizing legacy networks without disruption.
Do you sell direct?
Rajant primarily sells through our authorized partners and distributors, who bring deep expertise in deploying Intelligent Edge networking solutions across a range of industries.
This collaborative approach ensures customers receive tailored integration, local support, and end-to-end service from network design to deployment.
To find a Rajant distributor near you, visit our distributor page.