無人直升機之科技工商農業用途

VTOL UAV

Civil & Science Applications

▫Agricultural & Environmental Spraying

With a GPS-based flight navigation system, UAV's can take on the role of ‘Crop Duster’ when fitted with tanks of liquid pesticide and programmed to dispense the chemicals in a precise pattern over cropland. Able to take off and land independently of an airfield, these unmanned helicopter can fly crop dusting missions much lower and slower than a conventional aircraft sprayer, ensuring that the chemical payload lands only where intended and reducing the risk of inadvertent exposure to pesticides for pilots and bystanders.

▫Power Line Inspection

Keeping an electric power grid running smoothly requires constant and intensive surveillance of transmission lines, substations and other components of the distribution system. This level of vigilance usually requires costly, labor-intensive foot and vehicle patrols to cover vast areas of often difficult terrain. UAV's can support or augment ground inspection patrols, offering central dispatch centers a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the infrastructure with a gyro-stabilized EO / IR sensing system inspect long stretches of power lines in remote areas for trouble.

UAV's can also be used as airborne repeater stations to assist communications with patrol units at extreme range. Stable,  VTOL UAV's are ideal for overhead line inspections requiring long periods on station, as well as routine line inspections, or security sweeps of vulnerable structures.

▫Traffic Monitoring

Keeping roads clear and traffic moving requires the ability to provide up to the minute information on collisions, roadwork and other hazards to first responders and motorists. UAV's can support or augment existing traffic control system by providing rapid on-scene response to critical incidents on the roadways. These unmanned aircraft can tirelessly patrol local roadways, transmitting real-time data on traffic conditions to central control facilities via datalink. In the event of a collision or other critical incident, UAV's can loiter in the area for extended periods, giving first responders a vital perspective on the scene and allowing commanders to more effectively allocate rescue resources.

▫Aerial Photography

UAV's offer a stable, reliable platform for professional aerial photography, film and video. Equipped with a gyro-stabilized camera in an under slung sphere mounted beneath the aircraft, these unmanned aerial vehicles can maneuver with great precision, providing filmmakers and photographers with total control over camera angle, perspective, motion and many other variables. With a service ceiling of over 4000m (13,100ft), these UAV's can be tasked to obtain high altitude landscape portraits covering vast areas in a short period of time. Modular and lightweight in design.

▫Pipeline Patrol

Maintaining the integrity of pipelines which may run hundreds of miles through desolate terrain is a highly demanding and manpower intensive proposition. An unchecked leak or sabotaged valve can result in environmental disaster and costly disruptions of business.  UAV's are particularly well suited to patrolling long stretches of pipeline for evidence of damage or malicious intent. Undaunted by difficult terrain, these unmanned helicopters can closely examine pipelines and related structures with a mounted gyro-stabilized EO / IR sensing system, sending the data back to a central control station where it can be reviewed by structural engineers. UAV's can also be used as an airborne repeater station to assist communications with patrol units at extreme range.

▫Volcanic Exploration

Now there is a safe and efficient means to study life inside the crater. Capture detailed close up video, do complete inch by inch thermal mapping of the entire summit or compile any other imaging data necessary.  Using VTOL unmanned aerial vehicles you can accurately place sensors, cameras or other instrumentation to be permanently installed or retrieved at a later date. Unlike surface robotics, the UAV's can ignore all physical obstacles and quickly move around to any required vantage point or leave the vicinity in seconds if need be. Aerial slung probes can pick up surface samples or drop radio sensors directly down vents or the throat with complete accuracy. VTOL UAV will provide new ways to gather data and information never accessible or possible before.

▫Arctic Exploration

The planet’s Arctic regions offer a wealth of opportunities for discovery and research to those who would challenge these vast areas of rugged terrain and severe climate. Designed around a lightweight airframe nearly impervious to temperature extremes, UAV's are rugged and reliable enough to operate effectively in the most demanding of environments. Portable, and simple to maintain in the field, these unmanned VTOL aircraft can operate in remote areas without benefit of an improved airfield or helipad. With a range in excess of 300 km, UAV's can explore large areas of terrain in far less time than conventional arctic transports, such as tracked vehicles. This capability makes UAV's an ideal tool for scientific research, resource exploitation or search and rescue operations.

▫Wildlife Inventory

Tracking migrating animals as they move through their habitat can help mankind better understand these animals and how to protect them. Quieter than many conventional aircraft, UAV's can follow migrating species unobtrusively over land, sea and in the air, returning real-time video or IR images of their activity to a ground station via datalink. With a range in excess of 300 km, these unmanned aircraft can follow targeted animals over rough terrain or environmentally sensitive areas restricted to ground vehicles. Rugged, lightweight and portable, UAV's can operate without benefit of improved runways or helipads, making these aircraft ideal for tracking migrating animals in remote areas.

OTHER VTOL UAV APPLICATIONS:

1. Aerial Fish Spotting

2. Terrestrial Mapping

3. Ice Pack Monitoring

4. Highways Inspection

5. Infrared Inspection

6. Agricultural Crop Surveys

7. Movie and Film Production

8. Perimeter Surveillance

9. Forestation Studies

10. Migration Studies

11. TV and Video Production

12. Weather Studies

13. Habitat Assessment

14. Agricultural Seeding

15. Video Downlink/Repeater

16. Scientific Instrumentation

17. Communications Relay

18. Aerial Public Address

19. TV News Camera

20. Structural Inspection

21. Video Production

22. Environmental Compliance

23. Imaging and Mapping

24. Airborne Relay

25. Video Surveillance

26. Homeland Security

27. WiFi Repeater

28. Nuclear Plant Patrol

29. Aerial Public Address  

無人直升飛機之軍事及國防用途

VTOL UAV

Defense & Military Applications

Reconnaissance /Patrol

Obtaining accurate, real-time intelligence about the dispositions, capabilities and intention of your opponent is vital to achieving dominance over a dynamic and unconventional battlefield. Despite many advances in intelligence-gathering tactics and technology, conventional recon methods can be severely degraded by range limitations, harsh terrain, or the detection capability of your opponent, putting units in the field at risk in exchange for a ‘stale’ and often incomplete intelligence picture. Equipped with a gyro-stabilized EO/IR system, VTOL UAV provides a solid, reliable recon platform which can loiter in a target area for extended periods, transmitting a wide spectrum of real-time intelligence information back to the base unit via data link or recording it for later downloading. The negligible radar cross section, IR and noise signatures of these UAV's reduce ground observability while allowing the aircraft to be maneuvered as close as necessary to the target.

Communications Relay

Maintaining effective command and control over units on an increasingly networked battlefield requires a flexible and reliable communications capability. In areas where communication infrastructure is damaged or non-existent, or satellite coverage is unavailable, VTOL UAV's can be configured as a ‘flying base station’ to provide or enhance a range of tactical communications services. Able to loiter for extended periods over a wide coverage area, UAV's offer far better line-of-sight coverage than terrestrial UHF or microwave structures, while reducing the probability of interception compared with satellite or terrestrial alternatives. These UAV's can also function as surrogate satellites, providing satcom services and without the high cost and inflexibility of satellite coverage.

Ground Troop Escort

On today’s unconventional battlefield, danger lurks around every corner. Alert troopers can be trained to spot potential IEDs and ambushes, but in a built-up or mountainous areas, the enemy can take advantage of ‘blind spots’ invisible from a ground level perspective to prepare and mount attacks. Equipped with gyro-stabilized EO/IR systems, the UAV's can scout these blind spots well in advance of troops, giving commanders on the ground valuable intelligence about potential attacks. With a loiter time in excess of five hours, the UAV's can remain on station far longer than a conventional ground support or recon aircraft. The negligible radar cross section, IR and noise signatures of these UAV's allow them to operate virtually undetected at a low altitude, even in areas of high population density.

Beyond Horizon Surveillance

With a maximum range of over 300 miles, and a guidance system capable of remote satellite or GPS-based fully autonomous flight control, UAV's can survey targets well over the horizon and out of range of line of sight radio capability. This flexibility allows commanders on the ground to gather intelligence data, direct fire or perform damage assessment at extreme range from the target.

MASINT

Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) is a relatively new intelligence discipline in which information provided by a number of different sensors such as IR, ground penetrating radar, and radiological or chemical detection units are processed combined to form an accurate, multi-dimensional intelligence picture of a target area, regardless of camouflage or other concealment efforts. Stable and reliable, UAV's are ideal platforms for MASINT missions. Able to loiter continuously for up to five hours, these unmanned aircraft can monitor a suspect area, scanning for a spectrum of telltale emissions and sending the results back to the ground station via datalink for analysis, with a variety of sensor packages in addition to its onboard gyro-stabilized EO/IR system.

Level of Security to Port Safety

Port operations can place you in a most hazardous position unless all potential targets are constantly identified and monitored. The critical buffer and protection enjoyed while under way is non-existent and you now present a massive static target available to anyone able to break or exploit your perimeter.  The UAV equipped with a EO/IR system can ensure your safe arrival and stay, night or day, by quickly locating and identifying all Targets of Interest without risking combat aircraft or personnel. The UAV allows you to scan the harbor from both lateral and vertical points of view. A horizontal view from just above the water surface can locate even the smallest of craft or other water born threats previously able to safely hide in the shadow or over hang of an adjacent hull. The UAV can also respond to a potential threat or incident quicker than any other asset you have and visually verify intel from other monitoring systems and devices.

SAR Systems

High Tech Eyes in the Sky

VTOL UAV's are ideal platforms for the next generation of lightweight SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) systems. SAR takes advantage of the long-range propagation characteristics of radar signals and the complex, high-speed information processing capability of digital electronics to provide imagery of near-photographic quality.  As a primary sensor, or as part of an integrated payload with EO / IR sensors or a laser designator / rangefinder, SAR delivers high resolution, wide area radar images day or night, and in all weather conditions. Under certain conditions, SAR systems can even see through dense foliage, or penetrate sand and soil to image targets underground. The SAR system can be controlled in flight via SATCOM or LOS data link, giving commanders on the ground the ability to re-task the imaging sensor as needed.

ECM and Jamming

Close-up, Precise Electronic Warfare

Electronic warfare capability is vital to achieving dominance over the modern battlefield. Whether the EW mission requires intensive jamming of local communications, spoofing radar operations, or providing early warning of incoming threats, UAV's offer reliable and flexible airborne platforms for offensive or defensive EW campaigns.  Equipped with an ECW payload, these unmanned aerial vehicles can loiter over the battlefield for extended periods of time, collecting data on enemy EW capability and transmitting it to a central base for real-time analysis.  The negligible radar cross section, IR and noise signatures of these unmanned aircraft reduce ground observability while allowing the aircraft to be maneuvered as close as necessary to the source of transmission. UAV's can also enhance or support ground-based EW jamming systems.  Unmanned airborne EW platforms increase effective jamming range by reducing signal propagation losses due to terrain masking and other obstacles.

Mine Detection

Minefield Mapping and Surveillance

With over 110 million mines in 64 countries [www.unicef.org], effective mine detection capability is essential for maintaining force mobility and preserving momentum. Equipped with a gyro-stabilized EO/ IR system, the UAV's can provide covert wide area surveillance of minefields and areas of interest, providing real-time intelligence on mine laying activities along the route of advance or surveying cleared areas to prevent re-mining.  Mated with wideband / ground penetrating radar or magnetometers for sub-soil imaging of mines, the UAV's can support mine disposal teams on the ground, using GPS-based navigation systems to precisely define and map minefields.

EO/IR

VTOL UAV's are excellent platforms for electro-optical / infrared (EO/IR) imaging systems.  Mounted in an optional gyroscopically stabilized camera pod slung under the UAV, an EO/IR system can provide clear, vibration-free imagery day, night, or in poor visibility, transmitting the data back to a ground control station via LOS data link in real-time.  Constructed of carbon fiber and aircraft aluminum, the standard camera pod can carry an EO/IR payload weighing as much as 9kg (18lbs). The pod is capable of a wide range of panning, tilting and rolling motions, and will protect the instrumentation from airborne debris and moisture.

Target Acquisition

Unmanned Laser-Guided Missile Support

The development of laser-guided weapons has dramatically improved the accuracy of weapon guidance and delivery, allowing ground targets to be effectively attacked and destroyed while reducing the risk to aircrews or civilians on the ground.  UAV's can support laser guided bombing operations by providing a stable, robust platform for laser designators or other illumination sources. These unmanned VTOL aircraft can loiter for long periods in the vicinity of the target, gathering intelligence on enemy air defenses and target disposition that can be used to update the mission profile as needed. When attack aircraft begin their run, the UAV can unmask a laser designator, illuminating the target at the most ideal range and angle. Flying slower and lower than most conventional reconnaissance assets, the UAV can also be used verify or validate the identity of the target prior to an attack, reducing the possibility of blue on blue or “friendly fire” casualties. In the aftermath of the attack, the UAV can conduct bomb damage assessment, transmitting real-time video and IR images back to a ground station via data link. The negligible radar cross section, IR and noise signatures of these unmanned aircraft reduce ground observability while allowing the aircraft to be maneuvered as close as necessary to the target without risking additional aircrew.  

Unmanned, Accurate Post-Strike Intelligence

Accurate and timely post-strike intelligence is essential to conducting an effective air or artillery campaign. War material or other targets that survive an initial strike with only slight damage will be quickly repaired and returned to action unless recon assets can verify the kill or provide intelligence for follow-up strikes. Generally, manned recon aircraft have been used to conduct post-strike damage assessment, often in the face of an alerted enemy intent on protecting their airspace from further incursions. UAV's are an ideal platform for conducting post-strike damage assessment. Equipped with a gyro-stabilized EO / IR sensor system, these unmanned VTOL aircraft can provide clear, real-time imagery of the target, maneuvering as needed to inspect for damage as well as enemy reaction to the initial strike.

IED Detection

Clear A Safe Path From the Safety of the Air

IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, have become a constant threat to troops and diplomatic convoys on the ground. Concealed in common roadside objects such as trash piles, soda cans and abandoned cars, these explosive devices are often command detonated in the proximity of a passing convoy or other troop formation. VTOL UAV's can provide a persistent presence over known areas of IED activity. Equipped with an EO/ IR sensing system, these unmanned VTOL aircraft can fly well ahead of a formation, scanning for enemy activity and suspect objects which may indicate the placement of IEDs. Items of interest can be dye marked safely from the air allowing detonation or clearing of the hazard before personnel and equipment is allowed in the area. VTOL UAV's can also "paint" the target or provide precise gunnery coordinates for remote destruction. Smaller items can be removed from their location by the UAV with a tethered magnet or dredge bar  

Light Weapons Payload Delivery

Swift, Precise Drops in Any Weather

With a maximum payload of up to 200kg, VTOL UAV's can be configured for wide variety of cargo delivery or retrieval missions. Very much like full-scale, manned helicopters, these UAV's can carry objects slung beneath the aircraft, drag or tow objects on a tether, and drop or release objects on command.  This capability makes VTOL UAV's ideal for missions requiring sensors to be placed on land or in the water, and later retrieved for repair or battery replacement. Assisted by a GPS-based internal navigation system, these UAV's can be precisely maneuvered to a drop location, hover in place for long periods, and then quickly climb out of the drop zone.

Explosives Detection

Safe and Versatile Unmanned Measurement

The potential release of radioactive material into the environment, either by accident or as the result of terrorism, presents a very real danger for civilian first responders. Even with the best protective garb, high radiation levels can quickly incapacitate responders, making even short incursions into the contaminated area a risky proposition. Controlled via datalink from a safe location, VTOL UAV's can enter contaminated areas and loiter for extended periods to monitor radiation levels and survey the affected areas. EO/IR sensing systems can pinpoint victims and provide responders with high-resolution imagery of the area from a variety of angles.  Optional environmental packages for desert, marine and arctic conditions ensure that VTOL UAV's can function effectively even in the harshest environments.

Wireless WAN/LAN Hub

Instant Deployable Network

In recent years, armed forces have become increasingly reliant on wireless computer networks for tactical communications and information sharing. Network connectivity allows units in the field to coordinate movements and direct fires more efficiently than ever before, while providing commanders access to highly accurate, real-time intelligence on enemy dispositions from networked reconnaissance assets on the ground and in the air. Still, the effectiveness of such networks can be severely degraded by range or terrain generated ‘blind-spots’ in coverage, as well as enemy EW attacks or sabotage of central communications facilities.  VTOL UAV's can be configured as a ‘flying hub’ to provide or enhance network access coverage as needed. Able to loiter for extended periods over a wide coverage area, UAV's equipped with a wireless LAN hub offer far better line-of-sight coverage than terrestrial hubs, while reducing the probability of interception compared with satellite or terrestrial alternatives. Constructed of a lightweight composite, these unmanned VTOL aircraft are man portable, and can be quickly assembled, configured and launched without benefit of an improved airfield.