Icarus Atlas — Technical Overview

Icarus One Technical Reference:
Portable IFE System Specifications

Hardware specs, software architecture, flight data integration, and competitive analysis for aviation procurement teams.

Deployed on 100+ systems across 10+ countries since 2016 • U.S. Patent 10,193,945
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System Architecture: Portable Hardware, Zero Installation

A self-contained IFE system that fits in the overhead bin. No STC, no wiring, no aircraft modification. Power on and serve 400+ passengers over Wi-Fi.

Portable Hardware

Custom-built server with integrated ADS-B receiver, Wi-Fi access points, and 370GB satellite tile storage. Under 15 lbs.

Offline-First Architecture

Laravel 12 / PHP 8.3 application server with MySQL database. All content, maps, and AI run locally — no internet required at any point.

400+ Simultaneous Passengers

Multi-radio Wi-Fi serving all passengers on their own devices. No app download, no login — connect and browse.

Deployed on 100+ systems across 10+ countries since 2016 • Protected by U.S. Patent 10,193,945

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Map Engine: 3D Satellite Terrain Rendering

Photorealistic satellite imagery rendered in 3D with terrain elevation, rendered entirely on the passenger's device GPU.

Map Engine

  • RendererMapLibre GL JS (WebGL)
  • Projection3D Globe with atmosphere
  • TerrainDEM elevation to Z8
  • Satellite TilesUp to Z13 resolution
  • Storage370GB on-device

Tile Architecture

  • Zoom 0–8Global coverage
  • Zoom 9–12Route corridor tiles
  • Zoom 13Airport / POI detail
  • FormatRaster PNG + DEM
  • DeliveryLocal tile server

Client Rendering

  • ProcessingDevice GPU (WebGL)
  • Camera Views5 perspectives
  • Day/NightReal-time terminator
  • Aircraft ModelConfigurable per fleet
  • InternetNot required

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Competitive Analysis: 5-Year Total Cost of Ownership

An honest comparison including hardware, software, installation, and aircraft downtime over five years.

FeatureIcarus OneCollins AirshowThales 3DMapsPanasonic Arc
3D Satellite TerrainPhotorealisticStandardBasic2D only
Offline OperationFull (ADS-B)LimitedRequires connectivityRequires connectivity
Installation RequiredNo (portable)Yes (installed)Yes (installed)Yes (installed)
Operator CustomizationFull (admin panel)LimitedVery limitedLimited
5-Year Cost ComponentIcarus OneCollins AirshowThales 3DMapsPanasonic Arc
What’s IncludedHardware + software + supportHardware + software + supportHardware + software + supportHardware + software + support
Hardware + Software (5yr)$34,500–$59,500Est. $45K–$65KEst. $65K+Est. $38K–$45K
Installation / STC$0 (portable, no STC)Est. $15K–$30KEst. $15K–$30KEst. $15K–$30K
Aircraft Downtime0 daysEst. 5–15 daysEst. 5–15 daysEst. 5–15 days
5-Year TCO$34,500–$59,500Est. $60K–$100K+Est. $80K–$120K+Est. $53K–$90K+

No installation. No STC. No aircraft downtime.

Competitor pricing estimated from publicly available industry data. Actual costs vary by configuration, region, and contract terms. Icarus pricing includes hardware and annual software license.

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Camera System: Five Perspectives, Real-Time Rendering

Passengers choose their view. All five cameras render live on the passenger’s device using satellite terrain and real aircraft position data.

Camera Perspectives

  • FollowBehind aircraft, terrain depth
  • ChaseElevated overhead, full path
  • LeftPanoramic port-side view
  • RightStarboard landscape view
  • FrontForward toward destination

Rendering Details

  • EngineWebGL on device GPU
  • TerrainDEM elevation + satellite
  • Position SourceADS-B transponder
  • Update Rate3-second intervals
  • SwitchingInstant, one-tap

See all five camera views in action →

POI Database: 14 Categories, Interactive Passenger Markers

3.4 million points of interest displayed as interactive markers along the flight route. All stored locally — no internet required.

Database

  • Total POIs3.4 million+
  • Categories14 types
  • StorageOn-device SQLite
  • UpdatesAdmin panel import
  • Custom POIsOperator-defined

Passenger Experience

  • DisplayInteractive markers on map
  • Tap DetailName, category, distance
  • FilteringBy category on/off
  • Route ProximityDynamic loading
  • LanguagesLocalized labels

POI Categories

  • CitiesCapitals & major cities
  • AirportsICAO/IATA coded
  • MountainsNamed peaks & ranges
  • Bodies of WaterLakes, rivers, seas
  • + 10 moreLandmarks, parks, borders…

See POI markers on the live map →

Flight Data Integration: Real-Time ADS-B Position Tracking

Every data point comes from an onboard ADS-B transponder receiver — not GPS simulation, not internet lookups. Protected by U.S. Patent 10,193,945.

ADS-B Data

  • SourceOnboard receiver
  • Update Rate3-second intervals
  • Latitude / LongitudeReal-time position
  • AltitudeBarometric + geometric
  • Ground SpeedKnots, displayed in units
  • HeadingMagnetic + true
  • Vertical RateClimb / descent fpm

Route Intelligence

  • Route CalculationGreat-circle + waypoints
  • ETAComputed from live data
  • Distance RemainingNautical miles
  • Flight PhasesTaxi, climb, cruise, descent
  • Departure / ArrivalAdmin-configured airports
  • Demo ModeSimulated route fallback
  • PatentU.S. 10,193,945

Regulatory Classification

Icarus One is classified as a Portable Electronic Device (PED). No Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) required. No aircraft modification, no wiring, no installation labor. Place in overhead bin, power on, serve passengers.

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Anna VFA: AI Virtual Flight Attendant

An on-device AI assistant that answers passenger questions in 30+ languages. No internet, no cloud, no latency. Ships with every Icarus One system.

AI Capabilities

  • Languages30+ (auto-detected)
  • ProcessingEntirely on-device
  • InternetNot required
  • Response TimeSub-second
  • ContextFlight-aware (route, ETA, altitude)

Passenger Use Cases

  • Flight Info“When do we land?”
  • Location“What mountain is that?”
  • Content“What movies are available?”
  • Services“Is there Wi-Fi?”
  • GeneralWeather, timezone, customs info

Learn more about Anna VFA →

Full Operator Control. Zero IT Department Required.

Every aspect of the system is configurable from a web-based admin panel. Operators manage branding, content, flight configuration, and analytics without technical staff.

Branding & Theming

  • LogoCustom airline logo
  • Color Themes4 built-in presets
  • Custom ColorsFull palette control
  • Welcome ScreenOperator-branded splash
  • Aircraft TypeFleet-specific selection

Content Management

  • Media LibraryUpload video, audio, docs
  • PlaylistsOrganized by category
  • Safety VideosPre-flight content queue
  • MagazinesPDF viewer built-in
  • AnnouncementsPush to all passengers

Flight Configuration

  • RoutesDeparture / arrival airports
  • ADS-BReceiver status & config
  • Demo ModeSimulated routes for demos
  • Map SettingsDefault view, zoom, camera
  • POI FiltersEnable/disable categories

Analytics & Monitoring

  • Connected DevicesReal-time count
  • Usage StatsPage views, content plays
  • Device TypesiOS, Android, laptop
  • System HealthCPU, memory, storage
  • Flight LogsHistorical data export

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Ready for a Technical Review?

Walk through the system architecture with an engineer who built it. We’ll run Atlas on your route, with your branding, in 15 minutes.

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Deployed since 2016 • 100+ systems worldwide • U.S. Patent 10,193,945 • EAR99 Export Classified