When Prox Dynamics, Norway started the development of the PD-100 Black Hornet helicopter it performed a series of trade studies on different aircraft configurations: traditional single main/tail rotor (as the PD-100), coaxial rotors (such as the ProxFlyer), and quadrotors (commonly used in micro VTOL aircraft). Continue reading
Category Archives: VTOL
US Navy Wants Smartphones to Steer Unmanned Rotorcraft on the Battlefield
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin and Aurora Flight Sciences Sept. 28 to develop robotic rotorcraft capable of supporting rapid autonomous aerial cargo delivery to the battlefield. Continue reading
Alcatel-Lucent, Bell Labs & Parrot Team to Fly 1KM via 4G Network
The Alcatel-Lucent engineers, the prototypers of the Bell Labs Acceleration Platform and the engineers from Parrot got together to discuss a proof of concept for piloting an AR.Drone using 4G/LTE. Continue reading
Japan to Use Unmanned Helicopter to Measure Radiation Levels at Fukushima
Japan has pressed into service an unmanned helicopter to measure radiation levels within a three-kilometer radius of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where detailed studies have not been conducted since the accident last year. Continue reading
China’s Sunward Tech SVU200 Unmanned Helicopter Completes Autonomous Test Flights
China’s Sunward Tech SVU200 unmanned helicopter has successfully completed its first flight tests. Continue reading
FAA Bans “Drone Smackdown”in Washington Park
It started as trash talk between two contributors to a national security blog. They decided to host a drone smackdown to see if one guy’s machine could take down another. Continue reading
Crescent Unmanned Systems Launches Bravo 300 Tactical UAS
Crescent Unmanned Systems LLC in New Orleans has just launched the Bravo 300 Tactical UAS. Continue reading
UAS Put To Peaceful Use in Pakistan – Stunning Mountain Scenery Views
The use of UAS in Pakistan normally brings to mind images of US Predators attacking tribal areas. But UAS now are being used to capture a different kind of picture in the country — showing some of the world’s highest mountains being scaled by world-class climbers through some of Earth’s thinnest air. Continue reading