Flying camera lets soldiers spot hidden dangers in real time

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07/09/2011

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A lightweight and inexpensive flying video camera capable of reaching heights of up to 400ft has been designed to help soldiers spot hidden dangers on the battlefield.


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The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), dubbed SQ-4, can be controlled by a handheld remote control and goggles, which provide the wearer with information like the latitude and longitude of a vehicle, the distance between their location and the home point and the direction to home point, ensuring the soldier remains orientated at all times.

The intelligent system also allows the SQ-4 to autonomously fly from its last position to its launch point. Unlike the heavy and often expensive equipment currently available to soldiers, the SQ-4 is about the same diameter of a frisbee, weighs a mere 230g and is operational in less than a minute. It is so small that it can even fit into a soldiers backpack.

"It's vital that soldiers surveillance work goes unnoticed and SQ-4 is far smaller than current devices which look very much like large model aircraft and are over a metre in size," noted Middlesex University robotics specialist, Dr Stephen Prior. "We're providing a bird's eye view with a vehicle that's literally the size of a bird."

According to Prior, the camera can quietly hover or even perch on objects as it zooms in on suspicious activity or devices. Its miniature cameras also have a night lens for surveillance operations in the dark.

The SQ-4 is due to be unveiled at the world's largest defence and security exhibition, DSEi, at the ExCel London from 13-16 September.

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Author
Laura Hopperton

Supporting Information

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/

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