Tag Archives: Drone

Science And Technology

BUG OR DRONE?

With the signing of a new law by President Obama this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been directed to completely open US airspace to drones by September 30, 2015. There are many uses arguable for the use of drones, but most think of the unmanned planes we have seen in action against Al Qaeda when the term drone is mentioned.

The Air Force Research Laboratory made an animated video of the many uses of Micro Air Vehicles and how they may work in the field. After being released by a larger air vehicle, these bird or bug like surveillance drones can literally fly under the radar as well as enter places other drones cannot.

The video includes a section on “Remote Tag and Target” and “Precision Engagement.” The narration states, “Individual MAV’s may perform direct attack missions and can be equipped with incapacitating chemicals, combustable payloads, or even explosives for precision targeting capabilities.”

A picture of an existing MAV drone is now pictured as the main image on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base web site. Back on July 22, 2010, they also released a Fact Sheet entitled “MICRO AIR VEHICLE INTEGRATION & APPLICATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE.”

John Horgan of National Geographic has published an article called “Unmanned Flight: The Drones Come Home” in this month’s issue documenting the history of drones and their possible uses in the US.

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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
MICRO AIR VEHICLE INTEGRATION & APPLICATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
‘Bug-Sized’ Drones Are The Most Frightening Type Of Killer Robot Yet

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GERMANS UNVEIL ‘STAR WARS’ LASER THAN CAN SHOOT A DRONE OUT OF THE SKY FROM TWO MILES AWAY AND CUT THROUGH A STEEL GIRDER AT 700 YARDS


High powered laser is powerful enough to cut through a steel girder from 1km away
System is so accurate it could track and destroy an 82mm ball bearing designed to replicate a mortar round
German firm hopes to create a portable version that could be used on the battlefield
By MARK PRIGG

PUBLISHED: 15:45 GMT, 9 January 2013 | UPDATED: 16:55 GMT, 9 January 2013
One of the most powerful laser weapons ever fired has successfully shot drones out of the sky from two miles away.

The groundbreaking weapon uses a high powered 50kW laser, and is powerful enough to cut through a steel girder from 1km away, yet accurate enough to hit a target the size of a mortar round.

Rheinmetall Defence, the firm who developed it, say it could eventually become commonplace on the battlefield, and are developing a smaller version that could be taken to the front line to protect troops.

The latest test was conducted at Rheinmetall’s Ochsenboden Proving Groud (EZO) in Switzerland, in snowy conditions and blinding sunlight, and engineers are already drawing up plans to double the power of the laser before its next test.

‘The demonstration delivered compelling evidence for the 50kW weapon technology,’ a spokesman said.

‘A massive, 15mm-thick steel girder was cut through at a distance of 1,000 metres, and the successful shooting down of several nose-diving target drones at a range of two kilometres formed the second major highlight.’


The team were also able to use the system to track and blow up a ball bearing the size of a mortar round.

‘A steel ball measuring 82 mm in diameter and travelling at approximately 50 m/sec, the target replicated a mortar round, the firm said.

‘The Skyguard fire control unit immediately detected the target, followed by mechanical tracking with the 30kW laser weapon station.

‘At this point, the BFU of the laser weapon module took over, optically tracking the target, which was then engaged and destroyed in flight, leaving no doubt as to the tactical viability of using laser weapons.’

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Iran fired on unarmed US drone over international waters

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The Pentagon has announced that Iran fired at an American drone last week as it flew over international waters. The incident occurred 16 nautical miles off the Kuwait coast on November 1st.

The Pentagon’s announcement coincides with a fresh round of sanctions imposed on Iran by the administration. The White House said these new sanctions are, “related to the Iranian government’s human rights abuses, it’s support of terrorism and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The drone attack was the first of it’s kind over international waters in the Persian Gulf region.

Read more: Fox News

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Military drone mistaken for ‘UFO’ along DC highways – DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Military drone mistaken for ‘UFO’ along DC highways

Updated: Jun 14, 2012 5:40 PM PDT

By John Henrehan, FOX 5 Reporter

WASHINGTON – A saucer-shaped object on a very wide flatbed truck had some people wondering if the government was moving a UFO in or near Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. The truck came south on I-270, then took the inner loop of the Capital Beltway from Montgomery County into Prince George’s County. When motorists snapped photos of the strange object and posted them on Twitter, some people became concerned enough to call local police. One man called 911 in Prince George’s County because, he said, he was concerned about a relative who lived along the route. LISTEN: 9-1-1 call reporting “UFO” because it’s trending Twitter! Asked by a befuddled dispatcher what the object looked like, the caller replied hesitantly, “…ah… a UFO. I mean, I don’t really know. I don’t see too many UFO’s on a regular basis.” LINK: Photo gallery of “UFO” on DC Beltway Well, it turns out the mysterious object on the truck cruising around the Beltway is capable of flight. It’s an experimental, unmanned aircraft called an X-47B, according to Northrop Grumman spokesman Brooks McKinney. The company spokesman said the saucer-like shape of the aircraft is a deliberate effort to make it harder to detect. “[It’s] a shape that minimizes its refection of potential … enemy radar signals,” said McKinney, who also pointed out that the aircraft has no tail. The spacy-looking aircraft was being delivered to Patuxent Naval Air Station for testing. The manufacturer hopes that someday the government will purchase many of the drones so they can be stationed aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. McKinney said the remotely-piloted aircraft can be used for surveillance or can be rigged to carry weapons. Two of the experimental aircraft are now in Maryland. Why not fly the drones from their previous base in California? McKinney said the FAA is not currently keen on unmanned transcontinental flights. You May Also Like…. Mug Shot Photo Gallery Contraband Seized at Dulles Airport Celebrities pose for PETA photo gallery All content © Copyright 2000 – 2012 WorldNow and WTTG. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices

 

via Military drone mistaken for ‘UFO’ along DC highways

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FAA FORCED TO REVEAL 63 DRONE LAUNCH SITES ACROSS THE U.S.

Following a Freedom if Information lawsuit it has been revealed that there are at least 63 active drone sites around the US.

Drones are unmanned planes, these range from small aircraft, like the Draganflyer X8, which can carry a payload of only 2.2 lb, and are used by police patrol borders and by environmental agencies to monitor for wild fires.

However some of the drones are much bigger, like the MQ-9 Reaper, which is used by the military to kill terrorists overseas.

It has been revealed that 20 states have launch locations.

Drones are deployed from military installations, enforcement agencies, as well as universities.

However, it is unknown the exact number of these drones operating or the full extent of drone activities  in America’s skies.

Read more in the Daily Mail