DSTA and Darpa cooperates on micro UAVs in jungle conditions
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Singapore reveals jungle trials using micro unmanned air vehicles
By Peter La Franchi
Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency has been conducting co-operative research with the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency to assess the effectiveness of micro unmanned air vehicle operations in jungle environments.
Two series of operational and technical experiments have been conducted over the past two years, says the Singapore agency's deputy chief executive for technology, Peng-Yam Tan. The air vehicle used in the research has been the Aerovironment Wasp MAV.
Tan told the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's Unmanned Systems North America conference in Washington on 7 August that the research has focused on how MAVs "would feature in the three scenarios of conventional, jungle and maritime surveillance and the implications of the tropical environment".
The first round of experiments was carried out in October 2005. The second took place in October 2006 using a Singapore air force Eurocopter Super Puma helicopter as a UAV surrogate. It was used to fly a variety of developmental sensor payload types that could be carried by an MAV in a jungle environment.
Tan said this included hyperspectral sensors, three-dimensional radar, and day and night cameras.
The co-operative research included examination of MAV operations in both open and closed canopy jungle environments.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/09/215974/singapore-reveals-jungle-trials-using-micro-unmanned-air.html -
or
i remember this co show few products in last year
army or air force open house!!
aerovironment. Projects
1.WASP IIThe Wasp Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) is a small, portable, reliable, and rugged unmanned aerial platform designed for front-line day/night reconnaissance and surveillance. Wasp is the result of a multi-year joint development effort between AV and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
2.WASP IIIThe Wasp is the result of a multi-year joint development effort between AV and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). With a wingspan of 41 cm and a weight of 275 grams the Wasp is AV's smallest UAS. Wasp can be manually operated or programmed for GPS-based autonomous navigation. To ensure system interoperability, Wasp uses the same advanced technology found in other AV small UAS systems, such as Raven RQ-11B, Swift and Puma, and is controllable through a common Ground Control Station.
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Excellent, now we can even `scan' thier `jambans'.
`jambans' = malay for toilet
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no lor. i think the best is we can finally confirm if all the ghost story about tekong is real...
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Honestly, a UAV like those seen flying around in the jungle would seem a lil... suspicious to me.
This Micro UAV has to be small and reasonably manueverable and easy to fly given the conditions in the jungle.
Perhaps a good sci-fi feature to add would be some kinda docking feature that would allow it to hook itself or hang itself to a branch rather than constantly flying around. -
Wow... a cyborg bat with night vision...Originally posted by Shotgun:This Micro UAV has to be small and reasonably manueverable and easy to fly given the conditions in the jungle.
Perhaps a good sci-fi feature to add would be some kinda docking feature that would allow it to hook itself or hang itself to a branch rather than constantly flying around. -
Anyway, these successful tests would prove that the algorithms for UAVs in used(or potentially in used) by Singapore and the US are very advanced. You are talking about evading branches and all manner of vegetation; and worse still at night !! This is very impressive. We have come very very far. Our research is this field is very advanced.
I think it would be most useful at night where these wasps will be virtually undetected. Also, it would be hard to see and target if seen during the day. An enemy commander would be put in a hard spot if one of these MAVs is spotted. Withdraw immediately? Or risk an imminent attack within seconds from, say, artillery fire, 120mm mortars, missiles, etc. Enemy plans can go up in smoke in seconds. Very impressive capability to me
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Here's the Batmobile:
U.S. Air Force Takes Delivery of BATMAV Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems from AeroVironment
8/6/2007
WASHINGTON, At AUVSI North America, Aug. 6, 2007 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that the U.S. Air Force has recently taken delivery of its initial BATMAV micro unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which include the Wasp III air vehicle, as planned under the Air Force Beyond Line of Site (BLOS) program. AV received the BATMAV, or Battlefield Air Tactical Micro Air Vehicle, award in December 2006 after competing against a number of candidate systems. AV recently received orders for 30 systems through the program’s indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract which provides for purchases of up to $45 million over a period of five years.
Wasp III has a wingspan of 29 inches, weighs 1 pound and carries integrated forward and side looking electro-optical color cameras as well as a modular forward or side-looking electro-optical or infrared payload. The system is backpackable and is capable of operating for up to 45 minutes at up to 5 kilometers from the transceiver. AV designed the system to support the Air ForceÂ’s Battlefield Airman Operators Kit. Wasp III is a block III version of the Wasp micro UAS, which AV developed under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
!!!!OMFG!!!
“We were proud to be selected by the Air Force to support this program of record, which is the first such program for a micro air vehicle. We are now eager to place new BATMAV systems into the hands of Air Force personnel on the battlefield so that they can operate more effectively
and safely,” said John Grabowsky, executive vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems for AV. “While Wasp III weighs only 1 pound, it provides many advanced technologies proven to be of extraordinary value across U.S. military services. The Wasp III system can be operated with the same common ground control and user interface as AV’s Raven and Puma small UAS. This IDIQ is designed to enable other U.S. armed services to order these systems through the BLOS program, in addition to facilitating the procurement of BATMAV systems by the Air Force.”
The U.S. Armed Forces’ broad adoption of small and micro UAS has been accelerated by their demonstrated force protection and force multiplier advantages. Each of AV’s systems is backpackable, with aircraft that are hand-launched and act as sensor platforms to provide day and night, real-time video imagery to a common hand-held control unit used by tactical units for “over-the-hill” and “around-the-corner” reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.
AV has won three open competitions for U.S. Department of Defense small and micro UAS programs of record. As a result AV is the sole supplier of these small UAS to U.S. Army, Special Operations Command, Marine Corps and Air Force programs. To date, AV has produced more than 6,000 small and micro UAS including Raven, Dragon Eye, Puma and Wasp, and the U.S. Army alone has flown AVÂ’s Ravens for tens of thousands of hours in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. The company's small UAS are used extensively by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and increasingly by allied military forces to deliver real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition to tactical operating units. AV’s PosiCharge® fast charge systems eliminate battery changing for electric industrial vehicles in factories, airports, and distribution centers. For more information about AV, please visit www.avinc.com.
Taken from http://www.aerovironment.com/pr_detail.asp?ID=54
It's their article, their copyright! -
Impressive, very impressive.
I wonder if they are deployed, would it be at a Company level or Battalion level or are they small enough to even deploy at a Platoon level? -
As a corollary, consider the applications of the developed softwares for other indigenously developed UAVs like the MAV-1.
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They already working on 3 a/c swarming algorithm.Originally posted by Arthas79:As a corollary, consider the applications of the developed softwares for other indigenously developed UAVs like the MAV-1. -
Go and play with the IFO gang at Clarke Quay, observe these flying wings.
Those are the baby steps of these war toys. -
fly one in clarke quay you ram the little thing into Liang Court.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Go and play with the IFO gang at Clarke Quay, observe these flying wings.
Those are the baby steps of these war toys. -
I think it would be most useful at night where these wasps will be virtually undetected.
does it make any sound? especially the props. at night human ears were much more sensitiveAlso, it would be hard to see and target if seen during the day. An enemy commander would be put in a hard spot if one of these MAVs is spotted. Withdraw immediately? Or risk an imminent attack within seconds from, say, artillery fire, 120mm mortars, missiles, etc. Enemy plans can go up in smoke in seconds. Very impressive capability to me
agree...quite impresive if work...
If its a swarm..thats means the UAV were not for recon ..more like for attacking and confusing the enemy.
isnt it easier if a heli type uav to fly through vegetation than these wing type? -
Today's news has it... The Neo Kian Hong report one...
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nawh... fixed may have higher endurance than rotary wing... besides, with the proper engineering, you can make them fly rreeaalllyy slow.Originally posted by tankfanatic:.....
isnt it easier if a heli type uav to fly through vegetation than these wing type?
Downside is they can't hover...
