Posted on 09/18/2014 12:24:55 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Danvers-based CyPhy Works, a maker of flying robots led by iRobot co-founder Helen Greiner, said today that it was awarded a contract by the U. S. Air Force for a new miniature drone that could help improve search-and-rescue operations.
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Funded under the Department of Defense's Rapid Innovation Fund, CyPhy Works' Extreme Access Pocket Flyer — which can fit into the cargo pants of a military member and weighs 2.3 ounces — will focus on the remote inspection of small passageways and tunnels that are often blocked by debris and rubble. The drone measures about 7 inches by 7 inches and is 2 inches thick.
Under the terms of the contract, CyPhy Works will design and test Extreme Access Pocket Flyer. The current approach used by search-and-rescue operations relies on ground robots that can be limited by ground obstacles and steep terrain. CyPhy Works' potential customers include U.S. Air Force's Pararescue team, Special Forces and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Extreme Access Pocket Flyer will also be used as an airborne in-tunnel surveillance system, the company said in a release.
Extreme Access Pocket Flyer's technology makes use of CyPhy Works' proprietary technology, which makes the drone's batteries last longer. A free-flying vehicle this size would last less than 20 minutes and would lose communications when entering a building, the company said. The drone is also equipped with a panoramic camera.
CyPhy Works has previously announced two, easy-to-operate flying robots for the military, civil and commercial sectors: an indoor hovering robot and an outdoor multi-copter robot. The hovering robot, called Extreme Access System for Entry (EASE), is currently being built for military service members.
The Extreme Access Pocket Flyer is essentially a shrunken-down version of the EASE robot.
Want
Search and rescue with 20 minute range. Seems you’d just about be sitting on whatever you’re looking for to be able to use this. I only read the excerpt.
No, the competitors only last 20 minutes, these guys have a proprietary way to enhance battery life it seems.
“.........these guys have a proprietary way to enhance battery life it seems.”...
Que the electric car, we might have a winner here. 5, 4, 3, 2,..........
Little blue pills?
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