Textron Systems Unmanned Systems Delivers 4,500 Monthly Mission Hours, Additional FFS Operational Site Under New Navy ISR Services Task Order

HUNT VALLEY, Md. — May, 2014 —  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems, a business of the Textron Systems segment of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), announced t a new task order under the U.S. Navy Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Services program that is expected to reach full operational capability by the end of May. Award of this new task order is in addition to extension of existing task orders, bringing the total monthly mission hours provided under the contract to 4,500 across all international sites.

Under the ISR Services indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity program, Textron Systems Unmanned Systems provides end-to-end, turnkey mission support with its Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) — delivered by the company’s own operators and supported by its field service specialists.

“This fee-for-service [FFS] structure brings tremendous customer value — ramp-up time is minimized, and concerns such as training, logistics and sustainment are handled by our team,” says David Phillips, vice president, Small/Medium Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Textron Systems Unmanned Systems. “Our customers — in this case, the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force,Army — simply concentrate on the mission with a reliable, high-performance asset continuously at the ready.”

The company is maintaining operational readiness rates over 98 percent for its Navy ISR Services customers, delivering multi-mission flexibility with the Aerosonde SUAS, which is equipped for simultaneous electro-optical infrared and communications relay within a single aircraft. The system is designed for expeditionary operations under the most austere conditions. The recent addition of the new EL-005 engine designed and manufactured by manned aviation engine expert Lycoming Engines has improved both reliability and performance.

“With benchmark-setting reliability and proven multi-mission capability, our Aerosonde SUAS provides customers with outstanding value and performance,” says Phillips. “Equally important, it maintains a small, expeditionary footprint ideal for persistent ISR, border patrol, critical infrastructure protection, and so many other military and commercial mission sets.”

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems’ businesses develop and integrate products, services and support for aerospace and defense customers, as well as civil and commercial customers including those in law enforcement, security, border patrol and critical infrastructure protection around the globe. Harnessing agility and a broad base of expertise, Textron Systems’ innovative businesses design, manufacture, field and support comprehensive solutions that expand customer capabilities and deliver value. Textron Systems consists of its Advanced Information Solutions, Electronic Systems, Geospatial Solutions, Lycoming Engines, Marine & Land Systems, Support Solutions, TRU Simulation + Training, Unmanned Systems and Weapon & Sensor Systems businesses. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.

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Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is a business of the Textron Systems segment of Textron Inc. © 2014 AAI Corporation. All rights reserved.

Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Source Textron 5

Innovative maritime drones applications at AUVSI 2014

AUVSI 2014 Photo Report – all photos by Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update

Small UAS. Can be used safely in a variety of applications for collecting aerial images and data

Ty Rozier (right) of Elevated Horizons, explains what his company’s Agri6 unmanned helicopter can do. (4GWAR photo by John M. Doyle)

On Sunday May 11 nine small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) strutted their stuff in a hot, grassy field at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center about an hour’s drive away on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. The demonstration of how small drones can operate safely in a confined space was jointly sponsored by AUVSI and Space Florida, the state’s economic development agency for the aerospace industry. Both groups also wanted to show that small unmanned aircraft – which are barred from being flown for commercial operations – can be useful and safe in a number of endeavors.

The demonstration included four research scenarios: crop health monitoring, searching for a lost or injured person, monitoring mock wildfire and disaster scenes. The Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for air safety and integrating unmanned aircraft into the national airspace in the near future, kept most spectators far back from the demo area and the tents and trailers housing the small drones. The crowd, which at times numbered in the hundreds, could watch both the unmanned aircraft and video being transmitted from the small aircraft on large TV screens.

The aircraft participating included a six-rotor mini helicopter – also called a vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft (photo at left) operated by Florida-based Elevated Horizons. The company does aerial imaging, data collection and site surveys for a number of businesses – especially agriculture. Company executive Ty Rozier (pictured above) said one of their biggest customers was Dole’s fruit-growing operations in Costa Rica. “There are lots of local farmers who want to use our stuff but unfortunately you can’t do it” because of FAA restrictions.

Many unmanned systems makers these days are shifting products originally developed for the military toward the business and first responder markets. “We started in the military and we’ve moved into the commercial, industrial and public safety sector,” said Cameron Waite, North American sales directors for Aeryon Labs. The Canadian company flew its SkyRanger mini helicopter in the demonstration. The SkyRanger is a newer version of the Aeryon’s Scout quadcopter, which was the first UAS to fly from one of the six drone test sites designated by the FAA for developing ways to integrate UAS into the national airspace.

Source: 4gward

Pipeline Safety Research Project uses Aeryon sUAS to Demonstrate Benefits of VTOL Capabilities

Waterloo, ON – May 14, 2014 – Aeryon Labs announces that Aeryon small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) will be used by the Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI) to conduct research relating to pipeline operations. The research program will focus on how Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) sUAS platforms can be used for monitoring pipeline, integrity inspecting new construction geotechnical engineering and emergency response.

As a VTOL aerial vehicle, Aeryon sUAS can operate lower and slower than manned aircraft, and fly in confined areas or environments where fixed-wing UAVs or ground personnel cannot reach safely. Aeryon sUAS are able to fly pre-planned flight paths which ensure that constant and consistent monitoring of pipelines and facilities is easily attained. Aeryon sUAS provide a complete accurately geo-referenced visual of the area allowing operators on the ground to fully understand any potential risk or damage to the pipeline. The research will help oil and gas companies determine the most appropriate procedures and best practices for ensuring the safety of their pipeline infrastructure and overall operations.

“The ACUASI has been a leader in sUAS research for many years and continues to validate the positive uses of sUAS technology”, explains Dave Kroetsch, Aeryon President & CEO. “The lessons learned from this upcoming pipeline project will help ensure that companies understand how sUAS can help their pipeline operations run efficiently by providing consistent and repeatable results.”

This research project is supported by the US Department of Transportation and operated by the ACUASI with the Pipeline Research Council as project advisor. The project is scheduled begin later in 2014.

 

About Aeryon Labs Inc.

Aeryon Labs is the premier manufacturer of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) which are at the center of major world events and international media stories. The company is the trusted partner of civil and military customers, resellers, and other commercial business partners around the globe. Aeryon Labs is a Canadian Controlled Private Company with headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Field-tested and mission-proven, Aeryon sUAS set the standard for immediate aerial intelligence gathering by anyone, anywhere, anytime, for a wide range of military, public safety and commercial applications.

For more information visit: www.aeryon.com

Media Contact: media@aeryon.com | +1 519-489-6726

• See more at: http://www.aeryon.com/news/latest-news/pressreleases/668-pipeline-safety-research-project-uses-aeryon-suas-to-demonstrate-benefits-of-vtol-capabilities.html#sthash.VUykfg48.dpuf

Lockheed Martin Introduces Vector Hawk, Latest Addition to Small Unmanned Aircraft System Family

ORLANDO, Fla., May 13, 2014 – Designed for versatility and affordability, the new Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] Vector Hawk addresses a broad set of unique missions and operating needs within a single system. With a gross takeoff weight of only four pounds and a vertical profile of only four inches, Vector Hawk boasts best-in-class payload capacity, speed and endurance.

“We are proud to deliver Vector Hawk, a waterproof system that provides leading edge multi-mission capabilities in all environments,” said Kevin Westfall, director of Unmanned Solutions at Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business. “The Vector Hawk can be field reconfigured to multiple missions including fixed-wing, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and tilt-rotor enabling VTOL with transition to fixed wing flight. Our fixed wing variants may be hand or tube launched, and VTOL and tilt-rotor variants may be launched from land or water surfaces.” 

Vector Hawk features fully autonomous flight, landing and fail-safes.  It is inaudible at operational slant ranges.  The data link features a high bandwidth software defined radio, mesh networking (including 3G, 4G, and LTE cellular), over-the-air reconfiguration, and is capable of employing a variety of waveforms. With an open architecture, reconfigurable variants, adaptable data link, and scalable payload, Vector Hawk is engineered for unmatched capability.

Lockheed Martin has five decades of experience in unmanned and robotic systems for air, land and sea. From the depths of the ocean to the rarified air of the stratosphere, Lockheed Martin’s unmanned systems help our military, civil and commercial customers accomplish their most difficult challenges.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

Source: Lockheed Martin

HEX Air Robot. An open platform of aerial robot

We are an innovative startup who believe that personal drones will be everywhere in the near future and greatly impact our lives. We make drones that are smart, safe, simple and affordable.

We created HEX, an open platform of aerial robot. It can be fully autonomous, while also be managed by a mobile app.

We love quirky ideas and are currently in process of creating an open source community to explore the endless possibilities of aerial robots.

 http://hexairbot.com

Draganfly Innovations Introduction Video

 

Publicado el 13/05/2014

Watch a quick introduction to Draganfly Innovations, a leader in sUAS technology for over 15 years.

Souuce:rDraganfly Innovations Inc.