Next generation automatically-deployed communication relay

A radio relay comprising:

• a housing comprising upper and lower surfaces, wherein, after being released from a mobile platform onto a support surface, the housing is configured to come to rest in an initial orientation with either its upper or its lower surface resting on the support surface;
• a radio mounted within the housing, wherein the radio is configured to relay radio frequency (RF) signals and to operate as a node in a telecommunications network;
• first and second antenna masts, each having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each proximal end is rotatably coupled to the housing;
• first and second antenna elements operatively coupled to the radio and attached to respective distal ends of the first and second antenna masts;
• an antenna mast rotation mechanism mounted within the housing and coupled to the proximal ends such that once the housing is in its initial orientation and regardless of whether the housing is resting on its upper or lower surface the antenna mast rotation mechanism is configured to upwardly rotate the first and second antenna masts to a raised position such that the first and second antenna masts are substantially parallel to the ambient gravity vector without changing the orientation of the housing from its initial orientation and regardless of whether or not the support surface is level, and wherein the first and second antenna elements are configured so as to enable antenna diversity operation;
• an antenna friction brake operatively coupled to the first and second antenna masts, wherein the antenna friction brake is configured to hold the first and second antenna masts in position once the antenna mast rotation mechanism has positioned the first and second antenna masts to be substantially parallel to the ambient gravity vector;
• and
• wherein the radio relay is configured to be released from the mobile platform such that the distal ends of the first and second antenna masts are the first elements of the radio relay to strike the support surface.