Visual Spectrum, Stealthy Micro-UAV - Self-Powered BOOMERANG (with stabilized camera)

VeraTech Aero Corporation ^ | 9-26-2006 | Dean A. Tangren, VeraTech CEO

[gaijin]

The ability of U.S. ground troops to safely navigate the gauntlet of the urban battlefield has been greatly enhanced through the development of the VeraTech Aero "Phantom Sentinel" line of Virtually Invisible VTOL UAV Surveillance platforms. The Phantom Series single blade rotorcraft has the ability to deliver close up, real time video intelligence within 75 feet of nearly any event and remain virtually undetectable to the human eye.

Based on the concept of persistence of vision, the Phantom's single rotor blade has a center of rotation outside of the UAVs' physical fuselage. As the aircraft spins, it disappears from vision. The Phantom has a uniquely minimal cross section allowing it to "slice" through even the most adverse weather conditions that would keep conventional UAV systems on the ground. The rotational inertia generated in flight allows the UAV to self level and maintain a very high degree of stability, even while hovering. Phantom is scalable from two to ten feet in length to accommodate a wide variety of flight times and payloads. The compact size and light weight make it easy to fold, field pack, and hand launch.

Features

• Near invisible surveillance for close in intelligence
• Scalable in size/range
• Self Leveling in flight
• Several launching options
  • Throw and go
  • Canister launch
  • Drop from aircraft
  • Remote launch

• Easily field packable/foldable
• Adverse weather resistant
• Limited training required
• Electrically operated
• RC or GPS compatible
• 360 degree spherical viewing available from high speed camera

Characteristics

• DC electric power
• Two to ten feet in length
• Two to six inches in height
• Four-lb weight
• Collapsible wing allows The Phantom to easily fold into a 12 X 6 X 4 inch space

Phantom Sentinel Product Sheet

Visit source page, look at 3 movies at page bottom to see UAV in action!

Visit company pages, look at bottom of page for 3 movies showing UAV in action...

[gaijin]

NOTE - be sure to visit company website and click on the movies of the UAV in action --they are very impressive and illustrate well the novel and simple principle by which this visual stealth is achieved -- I have no biz relationship with the company...

[CWOJackson]

I wonder what the per unit price tag is on those.

[oolatec]

Not impressed at all. All they do is put the camera out of focus to make it look like the thing has "disappeared". Watch the two flight test videos closer and you will see.

[gaijin]

Steep at first, I'd bet....Hey, if they can get that close, why don't they make them into really stealthy assasination bombs? The required payload could be tiny, and collateral damage would probably be confined to bodyguards, who if the primary expires would probably later end up wanting to die, in most parts of the Turd World....

Seriously, check out the videos...kind of a powered boomerang...

The mostly STILL portion of the vehicle is only about the size of a softball...

[gaijin]

I think beyond a certain range their autofocus is not able to lock on the craft.

[MeanWestTexan]

The pictures of the "soldiers" don't look much like soldiers to me, as well.

To me, the shiny jewelry screams "shoot me, Mr. Sniper."

[Dark Skies]

Simply unbelievable!

[Professional Engineer]

PING

[Wings-n-Wind]

This is from The Onion....right??

j/k... no flames please...

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

That, and the "thrower" appears to be a WHHP (white hip-hop poseur) given the ^sag^ on those pants.

All the MORE reason for sniper fire in his general direction..

[gaijin]

Hahah! No, not from The Onion.

Yes, I do believe they should have gotten models a little more buffed-up; I'm almost sure those guys are civilians....

The original link came from defensetech.org

The company probably just got some cheap civvy dues to model the damned thing.

[evets]

Kids love 'em!

[Dark Skies]

What actually makes it disappear is that its center of mass is a hole...a blank space.

[MarineBrat]

Those videos are all eye candy. They are trying to make it appear as if the thing disappears, when in actuality they're just turning the camera out of focus. I don't trust anyone who would make these videos.

All those videos showed me is that this battery powered thing can attain an altitude of 15 feet and be stable. The fact that the company felt the need to make it appear as if it was more than it is makes me leery.

[petro45acp]

Invisible or not, pretty snazzy bit o kit! Like the idea and it looks like it won't cost too much.

Of course, the SciFi writers have used ducted fan hover surveillance and pacification drones for years (Dark Angel, Friday, etc)

Want one when they go on sale for civilians.......

[Dark Skies]

I'm almost sure those guys are civilians

Right.

But the design is actually quite simple when you think about it. It isn't so much as invisible as it is small and blurry and unnoticable. The high speed camera is on the bottom and simply shoots a high speed video target area that can be slowed down to real time when a computer image is generated.

The fact that the camera is spinning can be adjusted for in a computer by causing the computer image to spin in the opposite direction at the same speed as the camera (also an adjustment has to made to correct for the fact that the camera isn't in the center of mass)...and voila, the image appears to have been shot from a stationary position.

[CWOJackson]

"Like the idea and it looks like it won't cost too much."

Have you seen what we pay for a Kevlar Helmet?

[reagan_fanatic]

That, and the "thrower" appears to be a WHHP (white hip-hop poseur) given the ^sag^ on those pants.

Looks like it would be a good concept for another DEVO album cover to me.

[Old Professer]

Makes ya' dizzy.