Hasta La Gadget!

UAVs, or better known as Unmanned Air Vehicles, have become an indispensable part of modern day warfare. Basically, the chances of you wiping out an enemy is far higher if you happen to possess weapons of mass destruction as well as sport the latest that technology can offer. Well, folks in the British Army have a new “toy”, so to speak, to play around with, and that would be the Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle which will measure approximately 4” x 1”, and will offer troops who are on the ground the kind of situational awareness which is all too vital in sensitive missions.

The Black Hornet will come with a small camera that offers troops reliable full-motion video and still images. Instead of using one of those fiber optic cables which can be bent, soldiers can instead use it to peer around corners, or check out what lies on the other side of the wall, as well as over other obstacles in order to identify any hidden dangers as all the images captured by it will be shown off on a handheld terminal.

The Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle will come in the size of a child’s toy, while carrying a revolutionary new system that is easy to tote around whenever you are on patrol, where it can also perform in harsh environments and windy conditions to boot. Tipping the scales for as little as 16 grams a pop, and it has been developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway as part of a £20 million contract, where 160 units will be developed alongside Marlborough Communications Ltd in Surrey.

Sergeant Christopher Petherbridge of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force in Afghanistan, said, “Black Hornet is definitely adding value, especially considering the lightweight nature of it. We use it to look for insurgent firing points and check out exposed areas of the ground before crossing, which is a real asset. It is very easy to operate and offers amazing capability to the guys on the ground.”

Military Page
[ Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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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If we were making a list of terrifying airborne war machines, this would probably rank near the top. You certainly won’t want to be targeted by the Fire Shadow, but from the safety of a web browser, it’s impossible not to marvel at the craft’s versatility. Manufactured by French developer MBDA, the Fire Shadow missile is designed to strike a stationary or moving object on command. But unlike some other UAVs, this ingenious rig can remain airborne for up to six hours before it’s assigned to destroy a large vehicle (and its occupants) from a nearly vertical angle of attack. Tipping the scale at less than 440 pounds (about 200 kilograms), it has a range of approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) and is described by MBDA as being “low cost.” The British Army is said to have taken delivery of the missile in March, and will begin testing in Sweden later this year, but you can see it action today in the demo video after the break.

Continue reading Fire Shadow missile can remain aloft for six hours before obliterating a moving target (video)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Fire Shadow missile can remain aloft for six hours before obliterating a moving target (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAE Systems’ ASTRAEA isn’t a new concept — the company’s been playing up its unmanned potential for quite some time now — but it’s all seeming entirely less pie-in-the-sky now that the Farnborough Airshow has kicked off. Typically, UAVs are thought to be smaller, drone-type apparatuses; these things are typically used in military exercises where remote gunfire or reconnaissance is required. Clearly, it’s about time someone asked the obvious: “Why?” Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal, Engineering Director Systems and Strategy, Military Air and Information at BAE and ASTRAEA Program Director recently spoke at the aforesaid event, noting that this particular aircraft could “open up a new market.” He continued: “Current search and rescue aircraft are limited by human endurance, however with a UAV there’s no reason why they can’t stay up for weeks.” Sadly, he also affirmed that there aren’t any plans to ship actual humans up in the air without a pilot onboard, but if you’re rich and mettlesome enough to pull it off yourself… well, be sure to send us the video. Also, Godspeed.

Filed under: Transportation

BAE Systems speaks about unmanned ASTRAEA: no reason it can’t stay in air ‘for weeks’ originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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