Unmanned aerial vehicle

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Although most UAVs are fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft designs such as this MQ-8B Fire Scout also exist. A new development is the mini-helicopter with automatic flying system from Jan Verhagen, operational since 2007
Although most UAVs are fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft designs such as this MQ-8B Fire Scout also exist. A new development is the mini-helicopter with automatic flying system from Jan Verhagen[1], operational since 2007

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), sometimes called an unmanned air-reconnaissance vehicle, is an unpiloted aircraft. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic automation systems. UAVs are currently used in a number of military roles, including reconnaissance and attack. They are also used in a small but growing number of civil applications such as firefighting where a human observer would be at risk, police observation of civil disturbances and scenes of crimes, and reconnaissance support in natural disasters. UAVs are often preferred for missions that are too "dull, dirty or dangerous" for manned aircraft.

There are a wide variety UAV shapes, sizes, configurations, and characteristics. For the purposes of this article, and to distinguish UAVs from missiles, a UAV is defined as being capable of controlled, sustained level flight and powered by a jet or reciprocating engine. Cruise missiles are not classed as UAVs, because, like many other guided missiles, the vehicle itself is a weapon that is not reused even though it is also unmanned and might in some cases be remotely guided.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Beginning 2007, French based Dutch helicopter specialist Jan Verhagen [2] has succesfully concluded test flights (assisted by Dutch research organisation TNO) with his Unmanned Aircraft System Verhagenx2. This system consists of a mini-helicopter (6ft - 22 kilo with wireless HD camera), a ground station with data link and automatic tracking antenna. The helicopters flight is fully automatic, from take off, through GPS-controlled waypoint flight pattern to safe landing (target landing accurate to 1 metre). Range: 100 Km. Maximum speed: 100 Km. Ceiling: more than 3000m. Fuel consumption: 1300 cc/hr. Electrical autonomy 8 hrs. Flight time depending on tank and pay load: approx. 6 hrs. During 2007 the system has made 260 fully automated flight hours.
Image:UAS-verhagenX2.jpg

The implications of this latest development for tactical and civil applications are important. A VerhagenX2 mini-helicopter can hover in place at at a certain altitude for several hours, filming every movement on the ground (day or night), without being seen or (depending on surrounding sound and flight altitude) heard. Images are send to ground station for live viewing up to 40 Km. Suitable for covert observation in tactical situations, or wild life tracking without disturbance.


Technical Data:

* Auto start and auto landing
* Auto-return to start point in case of radio disturbance etc.
* Return to start point by assignment
* Mapping (f.i. Google maps).
* Adjustable waypoint system during flight
* Adjustable height during flight
* Adjustable speed
* Video signal over > 40 Km
* Autonomous flight >100 Km
* On demand control over > 100 Km, real time manual control
* Dual micro processors (safety)
* Follow-the-camera flight system, (flying in the direction of the pointed camera)
* Recording of coordinates and video footage at the same time
* Recording al flight information
* Making and testing of flight plan in simulator
* Revolving auto-tracking antenna system
* Accurate auto landing
* Compact: entire system including 2 helicopters will fit in family car.


The abbreviation UAV has been expanded in some cases to UAVS (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle System). The Federal Aviation Administration has adopted the generic class Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) originally introduced by the U.S. Navy to reflect the fact that these are not just aircraft, but systems including ground stations and other elements.

For more informations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle
i get this info from kenny who is my ex cca member. haha