This year’s International Aerospace Supply Fair (AirTec 2008) was held at Frankfurt, Germany. Exhibiters displayed the latest products from commercial airliners to Unmanned Aerial vehicle manufacturers. AirTec is a massive aerospace industry event and is recognized as one of the most important aviation exhibitions in the world. Customers travel from across the planet to see the latest technology that suppliers have to offer. The event is hugely publicized and is reported on many television broadcasts across the world.
Each year a competition is held at AirTec to see witch UAV supplier has the best system. The competition provides vendors from the UAV market to tackle a tough course involving flights in some very difficult situations. UAV systems are judged on: Design, flight endurance, capabilities, potential use of applications and of course, the ability to complete the course non stop without any problems.
The AirRobot was up against some of its major competitors but managed to complete the course without any difficulties. Other systems at the event ran into trouble and were unable to complete the course without encountering any problems. AirRobot was the only system to successfully operate non stop without encountering any problems. Judges awarded the title of Best UAV 2008 to AirRobot.
AirRobot were also winners at AirTec 2007 and displayed some impressive skills. Since last year the AR100B UAV has advanced and sold even larger amounts to the emergency services and military across the world. This year’s event has proved once again that AirRobot offers the best systems in the UAV market place. |
Burkhard Wiggerich CEO of AirRobot wins best UAV at AirTec 2008 UAV World Championship 2008 |
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AirRobot: The London 2012 Olympics Handover ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
AirRobot UK was chosen as the UAV system to cover aerial surveillance at the London Olympics 2012 Handover Ceremony during the late summer of 2008.
The system was deployed at The Mall and Buckingham Palace to provide real time images to emergency services at the event.
The AR100B was able to operate safely near to the palace and demonstrated the minimal risks involved with UAV operations at such a major event. The AirRobot did not over-fly any persons on site and was not operated close to anyone at the event. The unit was flown at a 45 degree angle away from the crowd for safety reasons. An estimated crowd of around 40,000 people were in attendance at the event.
Still images and high quality video was captured during the five hour deployment. Police, ambulance and other security personnel were all able to see the live streaming images as they were sent to command teams at the site control room. Operators from various areas at the site were able to direct the UAV to exactly where it was needed.
The AirRobot sent images to the AirRobot Ground Station and also to the command teams on the site. This proved that the AirRobot system is able to provide live image data to more than just one receiver on the ground. Our system can send data in real time to multi receivers placed at various points and provide an aerial surveillance solution to Gold, silver and Bronze command teams for such important events and high security operations. This type of operation provided the emergency services with a chance to see exactly what is going on at any location in real time. Transmit and receive systems can employ analogue or the more secure and encrypted (256 Bit) digital frequency bands. |
Palace and Crowd
Palace 2008 Handover |
AirRobot UK launches a New Ground Station!
The new AirRobot ground station is here. The unit is a compact and portable solution for AirRobot UAV systems. It is able to provide a digital or analogue data link with a full 256 Bit encryption. Each operator can use a special key code to lock out any rogue signals.
The system is able to provide a secure up-link to the UAV during flight. The secure up-link is able to protect the UAV flight control system at all times and prevent any ‘hijacking’ of the UAV during flight. The live video data stream is also protected and will transmit to designated receivers only.
The hand controller is robust and offers the user full colour imagery during operations in direct strong sunlight. This is possible due to our new LCD screen. The screen sits between the control sticks of the unit so that the operator can always view the live image data at any time without the need for a computer monitor. All functions are arranged in a straight forward configuration making it simple for the user to operate. The keys are also back lit for night time or low light use.
Set up time takes less then two minutes before a safe deployment of the AirRobot UAV is possible. The unit is so light and portable that it is easy to forget that it is being carried during use. The complete system is military spec and is now being used in Iraq and Afghanistan for military reconnaissance missions.
The images show the unit in various forms. Back-pack options are available for emergency service and military use. The unit can be also be fitted into a dedicated vehicle for covert and overt surveillance.
A video of the new ground station in use will be added very soon. |
New UAV’s for 2009
AirRobot will next year launch some new UAV platforms.
We have a worldwide patented propulsion system that will provide our systems with the most advanced flight capabilities.
The AR70 is a 30% smaller UAV than our current AR100B unit. Flights in very strong wind speeds are possible with this system. The AR70 will feature similar functions to the AR100B but will also have some different capabilities. Due to the size of the unit it is possible to send the platform into a small opening, a door or window for example.
The AR150 is a much larger UAV platform and is able to carry up to 2 Kilo’s and fly for more than one hour. The unit is much larger than any of our current systems and will provide aerial surveillance in very heavy wind conditions. Both the AR70 and AR150 will employ a universal system for AirRobot ground stations.
Of course, the AR100B is still an amazing UAV and is selling very well to the emergency services and military worldwide. The AR100B platform will continue to develop in the near future. The idea is not to replace our existing system but offer new solutions for certain operational requirements for our growing number of customers. The AR100B can achieve many applications for all types of aerial surveillance.
The images show prototype examples. They can fly and send all of the normal UAV data but will undergo some further development before they are released onto the market. You can see them in action on our videos page (Prototypes shown).
Estimated release dates are from mid 2009 (AR70) and late 2009 (AR150). |
Operation Equinox
AirRobot UK recently took part in a massive exercise involving more than 700 emergency services and military personnel.
The operation was conducted at the UK Centre for Homeland Security in Wiltshire (ISSEE Explosives college and AirRobot UK’s Home Site). The exercise involved a Multi Agency with many personnel from across parts of the UK attending the scene.
A simulation of a mid air collision between a Harrier Jump Jet and VC10 was placed at the site. Dangerous cargo, flight data recorders and hazardous materials were scattered across the 150 acre site. There were many casualties (Actors) on the ground with injuries from minor to fatal. A local MP was also on the scene along with many command teams including Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The whole situation looked and felt very real. Weather was poor at first light with fog bringing visibility down to just a few hundred feet. This problem prevented a police helicopter from deploying to the scene but the AirRobot was able to provide aerial surveillance of the complete site within minutes. The AR100B found bombs, dangerous cargo, aircraft wreckage and casualties. Collapsed buildings were also a problem for the rescue teams as the time factor was crucial to find survivors. The AR100B employed a Thermal Imaging Camera to help detect any possible heat sources. At the main entrance to our facility a chemical weapon simulation was carried out on the same day. This also gave the teams on the site a chance to use the AirRobot for aerial surveillance in real-time.
Police, Fire, Ambulance, USAR, CBRN, bomb Disposal and many military teams from the Air Force, Army and Special Operations requested the deployment of the AirRobot. Each team was very impressed with the capabilities of the system and was amazed at how quickly the unit was able to deploy and respond at such a critical incident.
You can see the Operation Equinox footage on our video page |
A collapsed building at the Equinox site
AR100B Seconds after deployment
Rescue Workers watch the real-time video from the AR100B |
