Aerovironment [AVAV] has unveiled a bird-sized miniature unmanned aerial system (UAS) whose small size allows launching from the palm of a hand and makes it difficult to detect while spying on enemy positions for dismounted troops.
The ruggedized UAS, called Snipe Nano Quad, began delivering to the first U.S. government customer in April. The Snipe is based on the robotic Nano Hummingbird developed by AeroVironment for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Snipe will be available to order Fall 2017. Operator training requires four hours only.
The company did not specify which U.S. military service or government agency is the first customer for Snipe, though the Army holds a contract for “soldier-borne sensors” into which the Snipe likely falls. The nano quadcopter was unveiled at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s Xponential conference in Dallas.
“Snipe’s tiny size belies its impressive capabilities,” Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of AeroVironment UAS, said in a statement. “It is quick, quiet, fast, durable and packed with advanced features critical to helping our customers succeed in close-range missions.”
The five-ounce nano-UAS is designed to be worn by its operator and can be deployed in less than a minute. It is equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), low-light-capable and long-wave infrared sensors in an integrated tilt mechanism, allowing Snipe to relay high-resolution images and record real-time video both day and night. In addition, Snipe’s integrated UHF radio provides for excellent non-line-of-sight operation. The software-defined radio allows Snipe to be sold commercially.
Powered by electric motors Snipe can achieve flight speeds exceeding 20 mph with a range of more than a kilometer and a flight time of about 15 minutes. Snipe is difficult to detect in operating environments with even minimal ambient noise, according to the company. Despite its small size, the durable nano-UAS can operate under challenging environmental conditions – including winds of 15 miles per hour with gusts up to 20 miles per hour.
“While Snipe’s stealthiness makes it ideally suited for military applications, it’s an invaluable asset for anyone needing a ‘Class 0’ UAS to support their missions,” Flittie said.
Snipe is controlled using an intuitive app on a standard, ruggedized touchscreen controller. Snipe also can automatically return to its operator if it loses its radio link.
Snipe benefits from advances in nano unmanned technology achieved by the company in its development of the Nano Hummingbird the first unmanned aircraft that demonstrated flight and control using two flapping wings.
Separately, tethered drone manufacturer Drone Aviation said it will unveil a couple of new designs at another conference next week focused on equipping Special Operations Forces.
Drone Aviation is unveiling the new WATT 300 heavy-lift tethered multirotor drone and an upgraded military Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP) inflatable aerostat platform at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association in Tampa, Fla.
The WASP is a mobile tactical aerostat system which can be operated by as few as two soldiers and can provide day/night video and wireless communication range extension from either a fixed, stationary position or while being towed. Over the past four years, Army-owned WASP systems have completed thousands of hours of soldier training operations, various DoD exercises, and customer operations. WASP is currently being use by DoD as a mobile, tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform in various ISR mission profiles involving ground-based assets as well as aerial assets through communication retransmission.
The WATT Electric Tethered Aerial Platform is an electric tethered drone designed to provide secure and reliable aerial communications and monitoring for extended durations. WATT uses a high strength, Kevlar®-armored tether connected to the ground providing uninterruptible power, unjammable command and control, and secure collection and distribution of sensor data, to deliver highly effective coverage from altitudes up to 400 feet for up to 8 hours. Supporting advanced military communications packages and sensors, including highly stabilized zoom EO/IR systems, WATT provides persistent ISR and aerial monitoring capabilities over a wide area.
Company team members will host informational meetings to display its full range of tethered aerial products including the upgraded WASP tactical aerostat platform and the WATT 200 electric tethered drone. Also on display will be the first unveiling of the new WATT 300 heavy-lift multirotor drone which delivers enhanced multi-mission capabilities thanks to its ability to support the same advanced EO/IR sensor payloads aboard the WASP aerostat platform. Drone Aviation’s WASP and WATT are intended to provide semi-persistent, mobile ISR.