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$10M For Unmanned Aircraft That Can Perch Like a Bird

Posted by samzenpus on from the UAV-wanna-cracker dept.

coondoggie writes "Unmanned aircraft maker AeroVironment got an additional $5.4 million to further develop a diminutive aircraft that can fly into tight spaces undetected, perch and send live surveillance information to its handlers. Last Fall, AeroVironment, got $4.6 million initial funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the Stealthy, Persistent, Perch and Stare Air Vehicle System (SP2S), which is being built on the company's one-pound, 29-inch wingspan battery-powered Wasp unmanned system."

3 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Stainless by JustOK · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Didn't the Stainless Steel Rat already use one?

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  2. Re:How lifelike by Molochi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    To expand on this, recoiless weapons like the jeep mounted ones scale down even further. A gyrojet round would work very well on a lightweight stealthbot and give it the lethal force of an infantryman with a rifle.

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  3. Hawk's Fighter did it best by CarpetShark · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yeah, Lazerbeak was the first thing that popped into my head before I even finished reading the summary!

    This definitely sounds like Lazerbeak, with the reporting to its handlers and all. BUT, in terms of cool ships that perch, there can be only one: Hawk's fighter, from Buck Rogers. That series had easily some of the coolest space tech ever, rivalling White Stars in B5 and BSG's Mk I Vipers (which were designed by the same guy). I loved that series, and BSG and all too, but Hawk's fighter (and that whole Hawk character concept) just blew me away as a kid.

    I'm really surprised how hard it is to find example of his ship online. I'm sure the entire episodes are available somewhere, but this is the best page I can find:

    http://www.tvacres.com/aliens_hawk.htm

    http://www.tvacres.com/images/spacecraft_hawk_fighter4.jpg