One of the smallest unmanned drones in the world has the diameter of a Frisbee, fits in the palm of a hand, and looks like a miniature Star Wars X-wing. The SQ-4 UAV isn't just a tiny surveillance vehicle; it's also on the cutting edge of the new wave of nanodrones.
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), are big business these days. One of the newest areas of drone development is the construction of nano unmanned aerial systems (NUAS)--tiny, flying spy vehicles that fit snugly in your palm. While they look like remote-controlled toys, NUAS vehicles are sophisticated surveillance devices perfect for discreet use in crowded cities. These drones, along with the slightly larger models known as “micro” drones, are a fast-growing field for arms manufacturers.
While much has been written about DARPA's recent hummingbird-sized UAV, another handheld model released by a British firm looks like, well, a miniature Star Wars X-wing fighter. BCB International's SQ-4 drone weighs only 2.9 ozs., flies up to 400 feet in the air, fits in the palm of a hand, contains two video cameras, can hover in place and perch on ledges, and automatically returns “home” when its battery runs low.
The SQ-4, which was developed by a team at London's Middlesex University's Autonomous Weapons Laboratory, debuted this fall at the Defence & Security Equipment International conference in London. Right now, the UAV comes in two separate models: a full-function “recon” model with two cameras and a 4,900-foot flying range that weighs 7 ounces, and a super-miniaturized version with one camera and a 1,640-foot flying range that weighs 2.9 ounces. Both models are controlled via a remote control that looks like something out of a 1980s sci-fi movie (see below).
According to BCB project manager Barry Davies, the drones are designed for discreet surveillance and reconnaissance tasks in urban settings. The drones hover silently and send video footage back to the operator and automatically begin to fly bac...
[Source: Fast Company]
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