Saab CARABAS radar deployable on UAV helicopters

I just found an interesting and timely article on a potential use for UAV helicopters.  The Saab CARABAS Ultra-wideband SAR radar is being used in India to detect buried IEDs.

“In the new system being evaluated, a Saab CARABAS radar, fitted in a Dhruv helicopter, does an aerial scan of the area in which security forces will be operating. The CARABAS radar is specially designed to detect metallic components of an IED, even when it is buried 5-6 metres below the ground. A computer quickly compares the image of each flight with the images of the previous flight over that area; any new metallic objects are highlighted, and their exact location mapped. Armed with that information, a bomb disposal team is sent to defuse the IED harmlessly.”

A lighter version of this radar can also be mounted on a UAV helicopter.

Full story at: Business-Standard.com India

More on Saab Carabas radar – starts on page 9

Aeryon Scout UAV Helicopter TV Spot

The Aeryon Scout UAV helicopter was recently featured on The Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet show.

This autonomous micro UAV flew around a simulated crime scene. The video shows how easy it is to fly the Scout in different modes and in a strong wind. Very impressive. Check it out at the link below.

Discovery Channel – Aeryon Scout

Wolverine III UAV Helicopter Review

The Wolverine III is the latest electric helicopter UAV developed by Viking Aerospace.  The system utilizes the very successful wePilot1000 UAV helicopter autopilot.  This flight control system has successfully been integrated on several dozen different helicopter designs and hundreds of helicopters worldwide.  It has also been proven on every continent including Antarctica.

The Wolverine III is an all electric, fully automatic, helicopter which can be operated with, or without a ground control station.  GPS hold and full velocity control is available without a groundstation (which runs on any Windows based machine).  With a groundstation, programmable waypoint tracking is easily accomplished.  The system has communications, loss of GPS, and automatic homing and automatic landing failsafe features.  The flight control system is housed in a rugged machined aluminum enclosure which is positioned completely within the side-frames of the helicopter.  This not only protects the flight control system, but also minimizes the number of cables which are outside the core autopilot box, therefore increasing reliability and ease of maintenance.

In order to achieve high endurance (currently 45 minutes is standard with this version, although it does have a high endurance version which is approaching 1 hr endurance), robust flight control methodologies are used in concert with a flybarless rotorhead designed by Minicopter.  Of course, higher flight times can be achieved in forward flight rather than hover.

Aircraft Data

Parameter	Value
Main Rotor Diameter	72 in
Height	20.0 in
Length	60.0 in
Weight	19 lbs
Power	6 kW (8hp)

Performance

Operational Radius:	7 miles Standard Up to 21 miles
Endurance:	Up to 51 min Hover
Operating Speed:	25 mph standard (up to 50 mph)
Max Payload:	12 lbs

For more info on the Wolverine III, please click here.

Aeryon Scout UAV Helps In Drug Bust

The Aeryon Scout, a micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recently helped out in a Central American drug bust.

“The Aeryon Scout — a small, lightweight mini-helicopter that is remote-controlled from the ground by computer — was able to provide visual surveillance of a suspected narcotic trafficker’s compound deep in the jungle. The Scout provides the features of larger unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in a small package, at a fraction of the cost.”

““This might sound like a plot from a TV show like CSI or 24, but it’s a real-life application of our robotic technology,” said Dave Kroetsch, President of Aeryon Labs. “This is what the Scout was designed for: providing aerial intelligence in settings too challenging or dangerous for humans to venture into.”

Kroetsch said the law enforcement officers took the Aeryon Scout into the jungle, in hostile territory, under the cover of darkness. At first light they cleared a small launch area, took the Scout out of its suitcase-sized case, and snapped it together. Measuring only 80 cm by 80 cm when assembled and weighing just over a kilogram, the Scout was easy to transport. They then set the robot’s target by selecting the location of the drug compound using a touch-screen satellite-map interface on a portable computer tablet. The target location was approximately 1 km from the operator. For security reasons the actual date and location of the operation cannot be publicized.”

Apparently the images from the Scout enabled the enforcement team to determine the interior layout of the compound, establish what vehicles were inside, identify possible escape routes, and assess what security measures were in place. Most importantly they were able to see a gap in the wire surrounding the compound that was then used as the entry point for the raid. The successful bust resulted in the arrest of the drug gang members. Before the use of the Aeryon Scout, law enforcement officers would typically drive an armoured vehicle through the wall of the compound and face unknown circumstances on the other side.

““The Scout’s low noise, radar, visual and heat signatures make it an ideal platform for covert tactical imagery collection. You can set it up in a couple of minutes out of its case, fly the mission, and be gone without ever alerting the target. And if you can play a simple video game, you can fly the Scout,” said Charles Barlow, President Zariba Security Corporation and former Canadian intelligence officer.

Aeryon Labs designed the Scout system to be easy enough for even non-technical people to use with minimal training. Its on-board computer system supervises all aspects of the mission, allowing the operator to focus on completing a task.”

See full story at: Aeryon Labs Inc.

UAV Helicopter Missions

UAV Helicopter

A UAV helicopter is an unmanned aircraft system that can come in multiple shapes, sizes, and forms. While larger, unmanned aircraft are used in military operations, smaller sizes are used for personal leisure and fun. UAV helicopters can be an interesting hobby, and an interesting way to delve in to unmanned aircraft systems.

While you do not need to do something “serious” with your UAV helicopter to enjoy it, there are some serious things that can be done with them. There are multiple ways for you to use a UAV helicopter.

Safe Surveillance

The UAV helicopter allows for safer surveillance than ever before. The small, unmanned piece of machinery can easily go into places that may be unsafe for humans to go through.

Those who are in a war will use the UAV helicopter to precede them. While they may do it to ensure that there are no enemies nearby, they may also use it to inspect unstable land. While they may not be able to walk across a field that is covered in land mines, they can utilize a UAV helicopter to see what is going on around that land.

Those in law enforcement can use the UAV helicopter to get surveillance on nearby areas that are dangerous. They can use these helicopters to gather information that will keep police offers safe as they approach the specific situation.

Photography and Exploration

UAV helicopters can get into areas the humans simply cannot get into. Luckily, a UAV helicopter can be outfitted with a camera or video camera. This easy change turns the UAV helicopter into a roving camera. You can now have images and videos of area that you would not have had images and videos of before. This is perfect for exploring new areas that may simply be unsafe for anyone to enter. The pictures that you have from these helicopters can also give you the information that you need, whether it be for war, law enforcement, or simple enjoyment.

Leisure

While there are multiple positive uses for the UAV helicopter, there is still one use that goes unnoticed. Some people simply like to have a UAV helicopter for sheer pleasure. They like to fly around the remote-controlled UAV helicopter, in smaller form, to enjoy the unmanned flight.

It can be easy to dismiss the power and importance of the smaller UAV helicopter models. In general, these small sizes are the sizes that can do the most for man. These UAV helicopters can easily give us information that we would not be able to have through other means. The small, remote-controlled helicopter gives us the ability to check our surroundings and record those surroundings. And for many, they give us the ability to enjoy ourselves. An unmanned aircraft system is important for both work and play.

UAV helicopter listing

Here are a few of the latest UAV helicopter models available:

Bell Eagle Eye UAV Helicopter

Star Lite UAV helicopter

Northrop Grumman Fire Scout

Draganfly x6 UAV helicopter

Bombardier X-50 Dragonfly

Scorpio VTOL Heli UAV

Seee more models at http://www.uavm.com/uavvtolother/rotarywingplatforms.html

UAV Helicopter Reviews

UAV helicopter reviews are coming soon. The best helicopter UAVs will be reviewed as well as UAV systems and mini UAVs.