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Electric drone observes at low cost
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13/08/2007
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A tiny German-made electric helicopter with four rotors is offers considerable cost saving benefits for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. Alistair Fox, business development manager of UK vendor MW Power Systems said that the ‘Microdrone’ can hold its position using GPS despite gusts of up to 20mph. Four brushless motors drive the rotors, while an auto control system adjusts their relative speeds to move it in any particular direction. Made of carbon fibre, it is less than 1m across and weighs about 1kg – but can carry a camera payload of more than 200g. Flight duration is about 20 minutes.
As well as GPS, it uses accelerometers, gyroscopes, and air pressure, humidity and temperature sensors. In the event of low battery or no radio signal it lands autonomously. The developers are working on a version capable of carrying payloads of up to 5kg.
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Author
Tom Shelley
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