AeroVironment has unveiled its ‘Nano Hummingbird’ – capable of climbing and descending vertically, flying sideways left and right, flying forward and backward, as well as rotating clockwise and counter-clockwise, under remote control and carrying a video camera payload. The milestone was part of the Phase II contract awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) programme.
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
Sea Avenger Completes Wind Tunnel Tests
General Atomics has announced that it has successfully completed a key wind tunnel test on a model of its Sea Avenger UAS. The test validated the low-speed characteristics of a new wing, resulting in higher endurance and lower approach speeds. The new wing is also designed to increase aircraft dash speeds, decreasing the time to respond to potential threats.
University of Arizona Engineers Study Birds & Bees to Design Smart UAS
University of Arizona aerospace and mechanical engineers are studying bird and bee flight to develop unmanned aircraft that stay aloft longer and cope with sudden and severe changes in airflow. The College of Engineering’s Hybrid Dynamics and Control Laboratory is developing mathematical analysis and design methods that could radically advance the capabilities of UAS and any other system that relies on autonomous decision making.
Elbit – Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 Fly on Joint Flight Missions
Elbit Systems announced that it has successfully performed a series of joint flight missions of its Hermes® 450 and Hermes® 900 Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The two different UAS were controlled and operated from the same universal ground control station (UGCS), transmitting the gathered imagery, ELINT and COMINT to their station operators, while using different communications systems. To view video, click here.
X-47 First Official Photos
On Feb. 4, 2011, Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy successfully conducted the first flight of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft. The flight, which was conducted under hazy skies at Edwards Air Force Base in California, began at 2:09 p.m. PST and lasted 29 minutes. The aircraft will remain at Edwards AFB for flight envelope expansion before transitioning to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. later this year. There, the system will undergo additional tests in preparation for carrier trials in 2013. Continue reading
Aurora Centaur Begins Flight Test Programme
Aurora Flight Sciences announced that the Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA) has begun its flight test programme. The first fully-configured Centaur made its first flight on Saturday, January 22, 2011 from Aurora’s base at Manassas, Virginia.
Gorgon Stares But Can’t See
A draft report by the US Air Force’s 53rd Wing Group at Eglin Air Force Base said that the new system, dubbed Gorgon Stare*, had “significant limitations,” and is “not operationally effective” and should therefore not be deployed in the field. The Sierra Nevada built device transmits live video from nine cameras and is intended to cover a three-mile area. It has been in development for the last two years. Testers found 13 serious deficiencies in the system, including:
China: Xiamen Test Flies UAS in Tong’an, Builds Research Centre
Mr. Zhao Jianqing, CEO of Xiamen Milestone Group, shows guests the Unmanned Aircraft
Xiamen Milestone Group has become the first enterprise in Fujian to design and make a successful trial flight of an unmanned aircraft. The trial flight was carried out on Jan 4th, 2011 and the company plans to market the aircraft in May this year.