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Paragliding Military Drones Under Development

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-new-tech-made-new dept.

electric_mongoose writes "NewScientistTech has a story about paragliding military drones being developed by a US company called Atair Aerodynamics. These aircraft could be airdropped or ground launched and fly for over 48 hours carrying a 100 kilogram payload, including video surveillance equipment."

3 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. Flying Monkeys by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Given the success of NASA in this area, I don't really see how anyone can compete with that braintrust and bankroll. Given the same requirements, I could likely build something similar to Atair's attempt in my garage. I'm very unimpressed. Plus, TFA seems like a weak PR attempt from a fringe, wannabe defense contractor.

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    7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
  2. Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? by ImWithBrilliant · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Nothing that can't be done by a bush airplane, and these things cost as much if not more than a used single engine or kit plane.

    I've seen the conceptual UAV project that the new hires at Dahlgren, Virginia worked on http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Successful_Test_Fl ights_Of_New_Armed_UAV.html

    This technology needs a lot of maturation before any combat application including terror: it is very noisy, unstable at speed on the ground, and requires a lot of ground support personnel. Holds exciting promise to a well equipped military for something like convey escort, but it's too high tech for backwater armies.

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    Is it a rule, that there's an exception to every rule?

  3. Democratize Surveillance by jlev · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've worked on a similar project at MIT, with the goal of open sourcing the hardware and software to make this capability available to media, NGOs and other non-state actors. Something like this would be incredbily useful in Afghanistan or Darfur for making food or medical supply drops, or distributing leaflets. We conducted test flights on the US/Mexico border looking for evidence of anti-immigrant groups that are known to promulgate unlawful violence against political and economic refugees there. While much has been made of using UAVs for "border security," the systems may also be used to keep our homeland safe by observing and reporting illegal proto-fascist activities.