‘Game changer’ ViDAR drone tested by Australian Navy
The Australian Navy has announced the testing of its new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) unit, which it says will enable long term UAS operations without support.
The Australian Navy has announced the testing of its new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) unit, which it says will enable long term UAS operations without support. A six-member detachment was sent to Christmas Island to conduct the test.
The ScanEagle UAS, developed by Melbourne, Australia-based company Sentient Vision Systems, uses a Visual Detection and Ranging system (ViDAR). This system is similar to RADAR, but instead uses a camera to scan and record a 180-degree view, which is then run though software to search for anomalies.
These images are sent to the ground control station in real time, ensuring that the operators can spot, for example, missing persons or surface vehicles as soon as possible.
Detachment commander Lieutenant Ben Hanson-Murphy, considers the ViDAR a game changer: “Employing the ScanEagle in a surface search role is enabling a far greater area of coverage than we could previously achieve. The team have done an outstanding job establishing the operating site at short notice with minimal preparation and then successfully establish a safe flight operations envelope around the island.”
The tests will continue till November and the ViDAR device should be ready to use at sea in early 2017, said the Navy.