Unmanned aircraft maker AeroVironment got an additional $5.4 million to further develop the diminutive aircraft that can fly into tight spaces undetected, perch and send live surveillance information to its handlers.
Last Fall, AeroVironment, got $4.6 million initial funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the Stealthy, Persistent, Perch and Stare Air Vehicle System (SP2S), which is being built on the company's one-pound, 29-inch wingspan battery-powered Wasp unmanned system.
According to DARPA, the key technical challenges of the new aircraft include: multifunctional materials that integrate the SP2S airframe structure with the power supply and transmit/receive antennas; advanced aerodynamics and control systems, including the ability to land and return home automatically; perch-and-grip technology; micro miniature pan/tilt/zoom EO cameras; (5) autonomous image capture; and data link communications relay capability with multiple digital channels that enables beyond-line-of-sight communications, with data/video encryption.
Experts say the ability to actually fly in and perch like a bird will be one the more technically challenging aspects of the system.
DARPA said the purpose of SP2S is to verify the utility of such a small perch and Stare system (currently no such system exists). DARPA said additional work was required to take the military users feedback and refine/upgrade the system to meet diverse requirements of a wide group of users. This task would then result in the delivery of ten upgraded systems for further testing.
The US Air Force last year gave the go-ahead for full production of the ASP III unmanned aircraft designed to be used for special battlefield operations such as targeting and tracking.
The AeroVironment Wasp III carries interchangeable targeting payload modules, including an infrared camera, along with two integrated color cameras that transmit streaming video directly to the hand-held ground controller for display on an integrated monitor. It has been procured under the Air Force's Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV) program.
BATMAV systems are expected to let military personnel see over hills and beyond their line of sight in real time and in low light. The unmanned aircraft are highly portable, durable and can be launched by one person. The BATMAV aircraft are expected to fly at an altitude of 500 feet, at about 40MPH and staying aloft for up to 90 minutes at a time.
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thats pretty cool. and it
thats pretty cool. and it shouldn't be an "insurmoutable" challenge if you'll pardon the pun
What about a mechanical
What about a mechanical snake with nuclear warhead, swarms of digital poisonous mosquitoes, robot-fish with hydrogen warhead, capable of entering a lake via a small river. Bring it on guys. What a fun! What clever people you are!
an international ban
I would suggest to ban by an international law all military robots. While there are not so many of them yet. It would be more difficult and expensive when there are armies of millions military robots.
The definition is simple: no military equipment without a responsible human physically attached to it.
In the 50s it would have been much easier to ban nuclear weapons while there were only few of them around, not hundreds of thousand as it is now.
As soon as processor's power is 10 times higher than now - no way to stop this machine. It will be extremely cunning and fast.
In the 50s it would have
Its about time
I'm glad to see that someone is starting to recognize the need to get a handle on Taliban and Al Queida types freely moving about and placing IUD's with limited risk. Enough of these things could be used to get a good fix on who the bad guys are and selectively take them out with little or no damage to innocents.
When these are integrated with other tactical ops, we should see the fortunes of war dramatically change for those who think they have safe haven for their vicious zealotry.
I hope Osama bin Laden finds himself in their sights sooner rather than latter, as many will be much better off. My only regret is that one of these "birds" doesn't come equipped with talons that would allow it to swoop down grab him and fly him back to NYC for trial.
you're delusional
you're delusional
Nothing new under the Sun
All weapons take out advantage from the strong and the numerous. It may be good if the strong and the numerous are against me, but it is bad if they are strong, numerous an armed with advanced weapons as well. What worries me is the certainty that this type of technology will be used by tyrants to turn us all into slaves in the end or criminals to rob, blackmail and kill us, or even both simultaneously. It always starts with Osama bin Laden or whichever scare of the day and it ends up with you and me.
fantasy coming into reality
I think we can thank Robotech for this.
We should thank Mr. Shoji
We should thank Mr. Shoji Kawamori instead.
Laserbeak
Eject!
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