Aerospace

Video: Palm-Sized Stealth Drone is Worn on Operator's Clothing for Quick Deployment

10 May 2017

The Snipe Nano Quad can be used by military for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Source: AeroVironment Inc.The Snipe Nano Quad can be used by military for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Source: AeroVironment Inc.AeroVironment Inc. has introduced a new miniature unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designed for use in close-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

The Snipe Nano Quad is a drone designed to be worn on a user’s body and can be deployed in less than a minute. The drone comes equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), low-light capable and long wave infrared (LWIR) sensors in the tilt mechanism that allows for high-resolution images and real-time video for both day and night operations.

“It is quick, quiet, fast, durable and packed with advanced features critical to helping our customers succeed in close-range missions,” said Kirk Flittie, VP and GM of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment at AeroVironment.

Weighing only five ounces, the drone can reach flight speeds of more than 20 mph with a one-kilometer range. With minimal ambient noise, the Snipe drone is difficult to detect in an operating environment, AeroVironment says. It has a flight time of 15 minutes with an app that controls the drone on standard ruggedized touch screen controllers with automated operation. The drone returns to the operator if it loses its radio link.

The Snipe Nano Quad will be available for order in the fall of this year but AeroVironment says it has already delivered 20 Snipes to its first U.S. government customer in April.

To contact the author of this article, email PBrown@globalspec.com


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