A
South
African
Odyssey
2024 Solar Challenge
If you’re a regular follower, you’ll know that every year, we provide satellite connectivity to the Belgium Solar Team along with our partners, global satellite operator Intelsat and flat panel antenna manufacturer, Kymeta.
Alternating between races in South Africa and Australia, the team battles against other solar car developers, to get to the finish line using solar power only. It’s a fascinating and exciting race that is hugely strategic and pushes the teams to their limits.
This year, the Sasol Solar Challenge was held in South Africa and the race covered around 4000 km from Johannesburg to Cape Town via Jeffrey’s Bay. The ultimate winner was the team that managed to clock the most kilometres on their car. The Belgian Innoptus Solar Team, with two previous wins under their belt, had the experience but could they bring in another victory in South Africa?
CONNECTIVITY
IS KEY
What do the partners bring to the table?
The connectivity provided to the teams is more than simply a means to keep in touch. It is integral to the race strategy, providing a plethora of critical information from weather data to information on roads and location and mapping applications.
Leveraging the strengths of the connectivity partners, together we create the optimum solution to see the team to the finish line.
Intelsat powered the space segment element of the team’s satcom connectivity with its Intelsat FlexMove solution designed to power data-intense applications.
The team used the KymetaTM Hawk u8 antenna to connect to satellites. The Kymeta Hawk u8 antenna is a flat panel antenna designed for mobile applications. It’s a complete connectivity solution ready to provide on-the-go communication.
ST Engineering’s iDirect modem technology is integrated into the Kymeta Hawk u8 and it features advanced mobility capabilities.
Source: Intelsat Service Management Platform (SMP)
“Keeping the Innoptus Solar Team connected throughout the Sasol Solar Challenge has been incredibly rewarding. With Intelsat’s Global satellite connectivity fabric, we enabled the team with reliable satellite connectivity, empowering them to strategize, analyze data, and communicate effectively, even in the most remote and challenging environments.
It’s a testament to the power of satellite communications and our commitment to supporting the future of STEM.”
Karan Anand, Director, Product Management, Networks Enterprise, Intelsat
Source: Intelsat Service Management Platform (SMP)
“Having the opportunity to personally engage with the Innoptus Solar Team during their participation in the Sasol Solar Race in South Africa. The level of planning ultimate dedication and laser like focus of the team was astounding and knowing that our solution forms a key part of their strategy was truly rewarding. Looking forward to see what successes 2025 will hold for the Innoptus Solar team with ST Engineering supporting them along the way.”
Jurie Geldenhuys, Senior Manager Sales Engineering, ST Engineering iDirect
Source: Intelsat Service Management Platform (SMP)
“It’s so rewarding to see the features we've developed bringing real value to the business.
Using Intelsat’s Service Management Platform (SMP), we created a custom dashboard that enabled real-time tracking of the Innoptus Team’s connectivity performance throughout the Sasol Solar Challenge. It was fascinating to watch the race unfold through the lens of SMP and see how critical connectivity was to the team’s success.”
Felippe Paiva, Principal Customer Experience Success Manager Intelsat
Source: Intelsat Service Management Platform (SMP)
“Kymeta is proud to support the innovation and determination of the Innoptus solar racing team, empowering the next generation of sustainable technology leaders. Together, we push the boundaries of connectivity and clean energy to shape a brighter, more connected future.
With our sleek, low-profile, low-powered designed antenna, the teams were able to have high-speed communications in the most remote areas of the world and stay ahead of their competitors, winning the race!”
Niladri Kundu, Director, Global Solutions Engineering, Kymeta
CONNECTIVITY
FOR SUCCESS
Advanced technology and strategic decision-making played crucial roles in achieving a leading position. Here are some key moments where innovation and teamwork made the difference
Decision making
The right connectivity enables problem solving, empowering the team to make daring decisions.
Simon De Baere, Race Strategist Engineer: “We faced a critical choice between driving 7 or 8 loops through the Kalahari Desert, a region without 4G connectivity. The feasibility of completing 8 loops depended heavily on wind conditions and updated weather forecasts.”
The team could only access fresh forecasting information from the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (KMI) every 12 hours. As the team would start racing at 8am, forecasts would not be available to them until 9am which was no good as they needed to know exactly what to expect.
The connectivity supplied by the partners meant that the team could download the latest forecasts in real-time, enabling them to confidently go for the 8 loops. This decision allowed the team to cover 98km more than their key competitors, Twente and Delft, securing a lead that they maintained until the end of the race.
Live Support from Experienced Strategists in Belgium
On critical days, the team maintained continuous contact with former strategists based in Belgium. Their real-time guidance and experience were invaluable, helping them make informed decisions during high-stakes moments.
Prep for blind and half-blind stages
Half blind stages are when a loop is revealed the night before, rather than in advance so that the teams are put under further pressure to get their strategy right at short notice.
On this occasion, the loop was only revealed at 8pm the night before and the team was staying at a remote campsite without 4G connectivity, so the satellite connectivity was crucial.
Using the antenna, the team immediately accessed Street View and elevation profiles of the loop, identifying its undulating terrain. This allowed them to adjust their expected energy consumption accordingly, giving them a competitive edge.
On Day 7, the full route remained unknown until 8pm the night before, requiring the same level of agility and preparation to optimize the team strategy.
Optimizing Performance with Satellite Imagery
On Day 6, the team was faced with thick fog and the requirement to make aggressive speed adjustments.
The race started in heavy fog, but the team used live satellite images to dynamically adjust their speed. By strategically navigating sunny stretches and minimizing time in cloudy areas, they optimized energy consumption.
This real-time adaptation ensured maximum efficiency and helped them stay ahead.
THE
DIFFERENCE
Strategic Innovation: Leveraging Technology for a Competitive Edge
From real-time weather updates to live satellite imagery and remote strategic support, the team’s ability to leverage cutting-edge tools and make informed decisions under challenging conditions played a decisive role. These innovations not only helped them to adapt but also gave them the edge needed to outpace the competition and maintain the lead.
THE
VICTORS
The Belgium Innoptus Solar Team took first place for the third time this year in South Africa!
We are enormously proud to have worked closely with this hugely dedicated group of young people who are constantly striving to push boundaries further every year. We are also proud to have provided the satellite connectivity that powered the team’s journey every step of the way, ensuring seamless communication and support throughout the race.
Congratulations to the entire team!!
You rock!
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