Wed, Aug 30, 2006
Flies At 10,500-Foot Density Altitude
Our regular readers may
recognize the subject of our next story... as we're talking about
the CyberBug, the diminutive unmanned aerial vehicle that earlier
this year caused a brief stir when the police department in Gaston
County, NC began flying the hand-launched UAVs in support of law
enforcement operations.
In order to assure the tiny air vehicle didn't conflict with
other, manned aircraft, Gaston officials agreed to keep their
CyberBugs under 400 feet AGL... but in fact, the UAVs
can fly MUCH higher.
During training exercises at the US Air Force Academy, Cadets
had the opportunity to watch as the 'Bugs flew at altitudes of over
7,000 feet -- with a density altitude of 10,500 feet -- in the late
July heat.
"The CyberBug excelled in flying ten recon and target
surveillance sorties at the Academy," said Cyber Defense Systems
Engineering VP Jim Alman. "The first-year Cadets saw just how the
Bugs operate in these situations. We gave an impressive performance
flying flawlessly in turbulence in a valley surrounded and filled
with trees... The Bug's pan and tilt camera gave consistent clear
and stable video to the end users proving the damping effects of
our design."
The Secretary of the Air Force was on hand to watch the
demonstration... as were numerous military officers. Company
officials say they're already looking forward to the next round of
tests... where they expect to go even higher with their tiny
UAVs.
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