GPS chips as well as inertial nav are getting very-very-tiny and could be integrated with some basic on-board flight instructions like "fly to these coordinates/altitude, linger using this pattern (circle tight/wide, fig-8, etc.), when time elapses (or signal is received), proceed to recovery point (maybe downwind to avoid running out of power), or ditching point".
UAV could also function as a low-power repeater to enable line-of-sight comm with units in canyons, etc. The flash card could enable high-speed messaging up and down (orders/requests/etc.).
Cheap and disposable is good. The USMC thinks so about their arm-launched UAV, but "cheap" to them is the price of a new Toyota Corolla.
It would be better to have the UAV be able to fly a simple course from internal programming than have remote control as the signals can be tracked back to you by a sufficiently capable OPFOR, who if they have that capability will certainly also be able to drop ordnance on you.
Another possibility would be a miniature blimp using a see thru skin as both reconaissance and a aerial node for an ad hoc commo system.
Eventually the UAVs will need to be built so gather as much model airplane and aerospace industry books online as possible along with artificial intelligence how-to.
Needs downward-looking video and zoom capabilities, as well as autonomous programmed flight (using GPS). None of this is impossible and is actually quite readily accomplished by most techno-geeks (like me). What IS a problem is finances, but these prices are also coming down.
http://www.eagletreesystems.com/ http://www.wirelessvideocameras.com/ http://www.rc-cam.com/ Here are some links I've found on this. Sailplane type models powered with an electric motor might be ideal.
Coordinated Illumination asks the question.
GPS chips as well as inertial nav are getting very-very-tiny and could be integrated with some basic on-board flight instructions like "fly to these coordinates/altitude, linger using this pattern (circle tight/wide, fig-8, etc.), when time elapses (or signal is received), proceed to recovery point (maybe downwind to avoid running out of power), or ditching point".
ReplyDeleteUAV could also function as a low-power repeater to enable line-of-sight comm with units in canyons, etc. The flash card could enable high-speed messaging up and down (orders/requests/etc.).
Cheap and disposable is good. The USMC thinks so about their arm-launched UAV, but "cheap" to them is the price of a new Toyota Corolla.
Cheers.
It isn't real time, you have to land and collect the data but Sportsman's Guide has one: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=535799
ReplyDeleteoh yeah:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/en/MK-Okto
For the tech-savvy, there is http://diydrones.com/ using open-source boards and code to program your very own UAV/cruise missile.
ReplyDeleteranamacar
How about a kite for under $20?
ReplyDeleteMight be able to fit that in a pocket...
http://www.kaper.us/articles/cheap_R.html
It would be better to have the UAV be able to fly a simple course from internal programming than have remote control as the signals can be tracked back to you by a sufficiently capable OPFOR, who if they have that capability will certainly also be able to drop ordnance on you.
ReplyDeleteAnother possibility would be a miniature blimp using a see thru skin as both reconaissance and a aerial node for an ad hoc commo system.
Eventually the UAVs will need to be built so gather as much model airplane and aerospace industry books online as possible along with artificial intelligence how-to.
AR Drone
ReplyDeleteNeeds downward-looking video and zoom capabilities, as well as autonomous programmed flight (using GPS). None of this is impossible and is actually quite readily accomplished by most techno-geeks (like me). What IS a problem is finances, but these prices are also coming down.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of repeater functions.
http://www.eagletreesystems.com/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wirelessvideocameras.com/
http://www.rc-cam.com/
Here are some links I've found on this. Sailplane type models powered with an electric motor might be ideal.
worth a look - mikrokopter:
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=gvH2f-AewX8