The Hybrid Quadcopter UAS has the extended air endurance of a Predator but can take off like helicopter from the back of a frigate. No wonder the U.S. Navy has expressed interest in this unmanned helicopter–airplane hybrid from Latitude Engineering, a small company from Tucson, Arizona.
Category Archives: News
US Air Force Report on Unmanned Aircraft Due in September
The head of the US Air Force’s remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) Capabilities Division expects a major review to be complete by the end of September. Continue reading
Textron Unveils Battlehawk Loitering Munition
Textron Defense Systems unveiled a small UAS with an added special surprise—it’s also a flying hand grenade. Designed to be carried by an infantry squad, the BattleHawk is an approximately five-pound collapsible UAS with an onboard video camera, all packed in a spring-loaded launch tube.
US Navy Halts Work on Triton Sense-and-Avoid System
The US Navy has halted work on what had seemed the Pentagon’s most promising system to help UAS sense and avoid other aircraft. The system, built by ITT Exelis, is “behind schedule” and the Navy has “made a decision to pause on the capability right now,” Navy Captain Jim Hoke, programme manager for the Northrop Grumman Triton said. Continue reading
US Government to Publish Small UAS Rule by Year End
The U.S. government should release a draft regulation governing the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by the end of the year, federal officials told the Unmanned Systems Conference this week. Continue reading
Shadow is US Military’s Favourite Unmanned Asset in Afghanistan
Geography rules in eastern Afghanistan. Rugged mountains and rocky plains make it a difficult trek for people, but well-suited for donkeys and UAS. And these days the region has its share of both. Continue reading
Crowdfunding Appeal for MakerPlane v1.0: Open Source Aircraft
The goal of this Indiegogo campaign is the creation of an open source aircraft that is designed to be built using readily available personal manufacturing equipment such as CNC machines and 3D printers (for non-structural parts). Continue reading
Unmanned Aircraft Demonstration Highlighted at Agronomy Field Day
One of the most exciting recent developments in agriculture is the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems to evaluate crop conditions. Producers, agronomists and the public can view a demonstration of this new technology at the 2013 Agronomy Field Day on Aug. 16 at Kansas State University’s Agronomy North Farm. Continue reading