MYPIBLOGs

It looks like our 21st century will be the century of robots, with a lot of buzz concerning a fast growing subfamily of these machines, namely drones.

As the study’s use cases demonstrate, drones can do much more than take pictures.In combination with other emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence (AI)), inspections can be undertaken in a cheaper, faster and safer way. Harvests could be optimised as part of precision agriculture and surveillance could be carried out more quickly and efficiently. Drones might be just a tool, but in combination with the right technology and/or equipment (e.g. cameras, sensors and robot arms), the number of applications is enormous and will continue to grow in the future. It’s crucial that businesses embrace innovation and start experimenting, and seek to learn from each other, across geographical borders and industries.

Small drones offer new levels of stealth and utility, and militaries around the world are supporting R&D into such drones. Unmanned aerial vehicle technology is advancing rapidly, and drones are getting smaller by the day. 

Small drones are considered better because they are more agile, are harder to detect, and are easier for pilots to control.Recent drone research and development around the world has advanced the state of surveillance and military drones.

Nano Drones: The Tiny Personal Drones the Military is Buying in Bulk

Nano drones, the advanced systems that pack a lot of functionality into a tiny form factor, are becoming a major military tool.

The Army awarded FLIR Systems a second contract worth $20.6 million to provide the service with additional miniature reconnaissance drones as part of the ongoing soldier-borne sensor program.

The FLIR Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance System is a nano-sized unmanned aerial vehicle that makes  surveillance capabilities portable for soldiers at the platoon and small unit levels, said Roger Wells, the company’s vice president and general manager for unmanned systems and integrated solutions.

Light, robust, nearly silent

The FLIR Systems Black Hornet 3 is only the size of a cellphone. This extremely light and nearly silent drone can fly up to 25 minutes, and provide many military advantages in combat.

Providing real-time video feeds and images

The drone will assist the soldiers by providing real-time video feeds and images of operating environments. Moreover, it's sensor can transmit live video and high-definition images back to an operator across a secure data link.

The system’s performance capabilities with its integrated sensors are providing soldiers with immediate situational awareness that’s tactically relevant.  This allows them to provide [intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance

Weighs only 33 grams

The drone weighs 33 grams or so which makes it pretty easy to use in combat.

It’s almost pocket portable as opposed to rucksack portable and [it] really doesn’t add a load burden to the soldiers and servicemen and women that are out there using it."

Black Hornet has proven to be a game-changing technology – a small package that can deliver a big edge on the battlefield, Enabling warfighters with a full-range of integrated unmanned solutions, both in the air and on the ground, is a strategic objective