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Feb 01

Flying Fortress Lego blimp lords over us with a Mindstorms-based iron fist (video)

Most Lego Mindstorms constructions have never slipped the surly bonds of Earth. The Flying Fortress Lego Blimp from Tyler Westmoreland and Chris Shepard won’t be similarly held down, however. Courtesy of two NXTBee wireless adapters, Tyler and Chris can fly the Mindstorms NXT-driven airship using a remote control and adjustable propellers. There’s no secret tricks involved, as everything is an off-the-shelf part that anyone can find, including the 55-inch helium balloons. We have proof: Tyler has shared the source code for both the blimp and the controller, so anyone with the resources can recreate the Flying Fortress for themselves. While the thought of homemade drone blimps looming overhead is slightly disconcerting, we’ll steel our resolve when it means that most any enterprising builder can take Lego airborne.

[Thanks, @frankiebit]

Filed under: Misc, Robots

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Source: Dexter Industries

Aug 09

Northrop Grumman’s giant spy blimp takes its first test flight

Posted in: Today's Chili

Remember the giant spy blimp that we wrote to you about in early April this year? Well, unfortunately the Blue Devil Block 2 didn’t really make it to the final phase, and Mav6 – it’s creators – was forced to cancel the already ballooning $211 million project. Thankfully, Northrop Grumman’s Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) made it through and took off to take its first ever flight test on Tuesday this week. The giant airship was spotted at a military base in Lakehurst where it successfully achieved its first 90-minute flight. But this is just the beginning for the LEMV.

Before it heads to the warzone next year, probably in Afghanistan, Northrop Grumman’s giant blimp will have to undergo more months of testing. Its developers said that apart from its spying capabilities, the LEMV is also capable of hauling seven tons of cargo 2,400 miles at 30 miles per hour. “The first flight primary objective was to perform a safe launch and recovery with a secondary objective to verify the flight control system operation,” Army spokesman John Cummings said in a statement. “Additional first flight objectives included airworthiness testing and demonstration, and system level performance verification. All objectives were met during the first flight.”

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Giant spy blimp sounds like an oxymoron, Airships to cater for the North,

Aug 09

US Army’s LEMV spy blimp spotted hovering over New Jersey, may take up cargo duties (video)

Posted in: Today's Chili

The US Army’s not-so-secret Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) spy blimp is better at staying hidden than we thought… if unintentionally. Although it was due to fly the friendly skies of Lakehurst, New Jersey in mid-June, Northrop Grumman’s usually unmanned surveillance was only just caught floating over the Jersey Shore as part of a maiden flight on August 8th. The conspicuous, delayed test run proved that the LEMV could take off, steer and land smoothly, and started a series of exercises that should culminate in combat trials over Afghanistan at the start of 2013. Northrop’s KC Brown Jr. tells Wired that there’s a possible (if purely coincidental) consolation for missing another deadline — the airship could be used in a pinch for carrying as much as seven tons of supplies without getting into harm’s way, albeit at a fairly glacial 30MPH. The successful first flight won’t be much consolation to Mav6, whose Blue Devil 2 was scuttled at the last minute after technical issues; it’s nonetheless a relief for US troops, who may get weeks at a time of constant intelligence on enemy movements. Catch a short snippet of the early LEMV journey after the break.

Continue reading US Army’s LEMV spy blimp spotted hovering over New Jersey, may take up cargo duties (video)

Filed under: Robots, Transportation

US Army’s LEMV spy blimp spotted hovering over New Jersey, may take up cargo duties (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 18

Vigilus Weapons System Concept Uses Airships to Deploy UAVs: The Carrier Will Arrive

Posted in: Today's Chili

Yesterday we looked at a drone that’s meant to be used for peaceful purposes. We are now back to our scheduled programming. MBDA Missile Systems recently unveiled the CVS301 Vigilus system, a “suite of future strike weapons” composed of small UAVs that are deployed via a launch aircraft. Oblivion descends.

As shown in a demo video, the Vigilus system will be capable of deploying (at least) two types of UAVs from Armatus, a mothership that looks like two blimps fused together. The first UAV is Caelus, a “scout missile” meant to be used for recon and to paint a target for its big brother, the other UAV, which is called Gladius. Both have 1kg warheads, but the Gladius has enough fuel to fly for 2 hours, while the Caelus has a smaller range. The Vigilus system can be controlled either by soldiers in the battlefield or by an operator in a remote station. We’re screwedius.