Relevant Links:
- AUVSI 2007
- Mini, Micro UAVs
- UAV Applications
- Nighthawk
- Maverick
- Electrically Powered Micro-Air Vehicle
- Nano Air Vehicle
- AeroVironment to fly a 10 gram Nano Air Vehicle demonstrator
Magnetically Operated NAno RotorCraft (MONARC) |
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Actuation will be managed by magnetic virtual swash-plate with pitch amplification mechanism for directional control. The MONARC will use a unique control system, featuring a hybrid RF/Laser Radar (LIDAR) 'tractor beam' facilitating tele-operation and navigation indoor. It will use an avionics package weighing only two grams.
Draper is currently working on a DARPA program, expected to complete by year's end. DARPA's required the vehicle to weigh less than 8 grams, fit into a sphere of 3 inches in diameter and carry a payload of two grams on a 20 minute mission. Mission profile indicated by DARPA includes 2 kilometers ingress/egress flight and 60 second hovering.
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Draper
Laboratory unveiled another concept for nano air vehicle –
the Magnetically Operated NAno RotorCraft (MONARC). This miniature
aerostructure uses a coaxial rotor powered by two direct drive
brushless motors that run on new 2 gram lithium- ion battery developed
at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) delivering power
density of 250 Whr/kg. 
MONARC
will be able to sprint at up to five meters per second in the outdoors
or fly autonomously on a controllable flight at a speed below 0.5
m/sec indoors. The current effort represents the first of a two
phase program that seeks to develop and demonstrate an end-to-end
system for hummingbird-scale UAV that executes ISR missions in denied
battlespace. Another company participating in the DARPA NAV program
is Lockheed Martin, which is designing a maple-seed like aerostructure
for the NAV.
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