System Previously Used For UAVs

Athena Technologies announced Tuesday its new Micro INS, all-in-one integrated Inertial Navigation System, Global Positioning System and Air Data, Attitude, Heading, Reference System (INS/GPS/ADAHRS) for civilian aircraft was successfully flight tested by German systems integration company Stock Flight Systems.

Athena tells ANN the Micro INS is a four-ounce hardware and software device the size of a small cell phone that provides flight data, such as attitude, heading, air speed, latitude/longitude to drive glass cockpit displays and assist pilots with navigation.

The Micro INS is a completely integrated system that is a fraction of the size of other commercial ADAHRS systems, but still provides such performance as 0.1 degree of attitude accuracy.

Stock Flight Systems integrated the device with a flight data recorder and placed it in their Pitts S2B experimental airplane. Chef Executive Officer Michael Stock evaluated the system and tested it in dynamic flight, including aerobatic maneuvers.

"The Micro INS performed amazingly well in aerobatic maneuvers," he said.

"We are pleased the Micro INS was able to exceed Stock Flight Systems' expectations during the flight test," said Dr. David Vos, Athena's CEO and Chief Technology Officer.

"This demonstrates that Athena has successfully transitioned high performance navigation technology that has been proven with over 180,000 flight hours in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle industry to civilian aviation."

Following the Micro INS release for experimental class aircraft, Athena plans to release a series of products certified by the Federal Aviation Administration for general and business aviation, including INS/GPS/ADAHRS systems, autopilots, and full flight controls, including redundant configurations.

FMI: www.athenati.com, www.stockflightsystems.com