Arcturus UAV has unveiled JUMP, a vertical takeoff and landing system for their T-20 and T-16 fixed wing UAVs. Booms fitted with vertical lift motors and rotors are mounted to each wing to provide vertical lift for takeoff and landing. Vertical lift motors are shut off for winged flight and propellers are feathered longitudinally for minimum drag. Continue reading
Category Archives: VTOL
Sikorsky Prepares Fully Autonomous Flight of Sara S-76
Sikorsky is proceeding with the second phase of flight-testing for its Sara demonstrator, an S-76 fitted with special equipment to expand operational automation. Continue reading
Black Knight Transformer Completes First Flights
Advanced Tactics Inc. announced that it has successfully completed the first flight test of the Black Knight Transformer, a modular and roadable vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Continue reading
DJI Programmes Phantom with No-Fly Zones Around 350 Airports
In announcing what it calls “No Fly Zones” safety modifications, China-based DJI Innovations will modify software that provides satellite GPS guidance for its highly popular ‘Phantom’ series. Continue reading
US Marines Demonstrate Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS)
Autonomy options for the Marines have taken a major step forward, as officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today two successful helicopter flight demonstrations with unmanned flight capability at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., part of the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) programme. Continue reading
UAS Thermal Images Reveal Buried Ancient Village in New Mexico
Thermal images captured by a small UAS allowed archaeologists to peer under the surface of the New Mexican desert floor, revealing never-before-seen structures in an ancient Native American settlement. Called Blue J, this 1,000-year-old village was first identified by archaeologists in the 1970s. Continue reading
DJI Introduces Phantom 2 Vision+
DJI has announced the release of the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, the world’s first flying camera that captures stabilized HD video out of the box. The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ features a built-in camera that shoots 1080p video at 30 frame-per-second (fps) and takes 14-megapixel pictures. The camera is mounted to a gimbal, an electronic stabilizer, ensuring the steadiness of the camera on 3 axes – pitch, roll and yaw – regardless of wind conditions or flight speed. Continue reading
US Navy Orders Five MQ-8C Fire Scouts for $44M
Northrop Grumman Corp. will build five long-range unmanned helicopters for operation from destroyers and other surface warships under terms of a $43.8 million U.S. Navy contract announced last week.